Britons heading on their holidays to certain locations in sunny Spain will be faced with a new tourist tax as of December 19, 2023, it has been confirmed.
Local councils across the country have been given the green light to apply surcharges of up to two euros per night, bringing with it huge controversy.
While Benidorm has already confirmed that it will 'never' impose the tourism tax, other areas of Valencia will - and there are even fears that Benidorm may change its mind should financial pressures increase.
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The Mirror reports that the Valencian region includes the Costa Blanca, where millions of Brits head for their holidays frequently. Approval for the new charge anywhere in Valencia was published today in the Official Gazette of the Generalitat Valencia.
It will be known as the Valencian Tax on Tourist Stays (IVET) and could bring in 30 million euros a year to spend on green projects. In an unexpected move, Valencia council has extended the tourist tax to cruise passengers (120,000 this year). There are some exemptions to the tax, such as children under the age of 16 and a number of disabled people.
The good news for Brits is that it won't cause a surge in prices for holidays. Prices range from 0.5 euros for people staying in tourist hostels to two euros in five-star hotels. Four and three star establishments, 80% of the hotel offer on the Costa Blanca, will charge one euro per person per day, and cruise passengers 1.5 euros.
It would apply to tourists staying overnight, if the local council chooses to enforce the tax. It's expected that the rules would apply to accommodation such as hotels, spas, hostels, holiday rentals, campsites and cruise ships.
Earlier this year, a pressure group was launched in Valencia to oppose the new tax, with protestors arguing that the area isn't expected to recover from the impacts of Covid on its economy until at least 2024.
The group's protest manifesto says: "Tourism is the activity that has suffered the most during the pandemic. It is still a long way from recovering employment and turnover levels from before the Covid19 crisis. Tourist convalescence will last three or four years. The latest studies estimate that this recovery in levels will not occur until 2024 depending on the evolution of the global health situation."
"Tourism has lost competitiveness in these two long years of pandemic. At this time, the priority for all, businessmen, workers, governments and politicians, has to be to consolidate the recovery of tourism in the Valencian community."
"There should be no increase in tax pressure. The policies must concentrate on increasing quality, improving the tourist product and facilitating the arrival of tourists."
Benidorm has yet to confirm its stance but last December, its mayor, Toni Perez declared: "No and never! We will not apply it!"
He said asking holidaymakers to pay an extra fee per night when they are on holiday will 'penalise tourist activity' and has rejected its implementation. He says Benidorm has always rejected the idea and will resist all efforts to apply it.
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