Spain has shot a surprise on visitors to its country. Holiday makers are furious as Spain announced that it will be charging upto £70 for taking a break in countries like Majorca and Ibiza this summer. The new duty has been levied for ‘sustainable tourism ‘and whether booking has been made before or after the decision was passed, tourists will have to shell the hefty sum.
The fee will be charged from tourists after July1. Each person will be forced to pay two Euros per night directly to the hotel, which will differ according the hotel’s star rating. A hotel with between one and three stars will cost one euro per day per person – and two for those hotels rated four and five stars.
The fees are worrying families of four as they could end up paying upto £70 extra over a fortnight. Villas, campsites and private houses are not exempted. Holiday makers think that this is Spain’s way of building pressure on tourists as other tourist hotspots such as terror-hit tourist destinations Egypt and Tunisia are not favorite destinations now.
Holiday makers in Malta will also be charged a new fee from June of 40p per night, although it will be capped at five Euros. Authorities argue that these funds will go in protecting the islands’ natural resources. Tourist tax is prevalent in countries like Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Greece. But these countries include the tax in the hotel cost and tourists are mostly unaware. Air BnB properties have also started to include the fee in Paris. The tourist tax is applicable to Barcelona and rest of Catalonia with nightly rates ranging from €0.45 to €2.50. The revelation of the tax has left tourists very unhappy about their visit to Spain.
