Majorcan hoteliers have attacked the tourist tax increase and the failure to ban holiday lets. (Image: Getty)
The has responded angrily to announcements on Wednesday regarding , apartment holiday lets and water charges, criticising President for a lack of courage and ambition.
The federation believes that the government has missed a “golden opportunity” to return a .
Prohens announced in parliament on Wednesday that when the current moratorium on new accommodation places (beds) is lifted, there will be a ban on new holiday rental licences for apartments. The federation, however, has advocated eliminating all the existing supply of holiday apartments.
“Despite unsustainable precariousness in access to housing, we have a scenario by which the Balearic Government guarantees a continuation of ,” the federation argued, according to the .
Flats not being returned to the housing market “were designed for residential use”.
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The federation has advocated eliminating all the existing supply of holiday apartments. (Image: Getty)
“This will worsen the shortage experienced by citizens, public and private sector workers and young people who aspire to emancipate themselves.” It continued: “The ground is being paved for the perpetuation of the “.
The hoteliers are also critical of the plan to . This comes on top of the “impunity of the illegal supply, which will continue to run wild”.
The proposed increase, also announced on Wednesday, is set to be increased during the peak summer season. Currently, five- and four-star hotel guests pay four euros (£3.30), while guests at lower-star accommodations are charged £2.50. Therefore, a family of four could pay as much as £92.40 extra for a seven-day stay in a four-star hotel. However, the exact new rate has not yet been disclosed.
A tourism official said: “Since July 1, 2016, the Tax for Sustainable Tourism is levied on all overnight stays in tourist accommodations on the Balearic Islands.
“Thanks to the contribution, we are able to make major investments to compensate the territorial and environmental impact of tourism on Mallorca, Menorca, , and Formentera.”
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The hoteliers are also critical of the plan to increase the tourist tax between June and August. (Image: Getty)
The tax, however, will be reduced during the low season of December, January and February to attract more visitors to the islands during this time of year. It is unclear whether this reduction will lower the current tax level or simply result in a smaller increase compared to the summer rate.
“We do not see how tourists will understand that we welcome them to the islands by charging them even more and without any improvement or transparency in how the tax is used.”
Finally, the federation believes that an increase in the rate for large consumers, such as hotels, and a reduction for domestic customers is “discriminatory”.
“What should be done is to encourage co-responsibility for all consumers to be respectful of and to promote more rational use.”