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Majorca plans to double tourist tax and more
Pic Majorca Daily Bulletin
Balearic Islands plan to use increased taxes to level out tourism months and fund sustainable development
The Balearic Islands plans to double its tourist tax during the peak season in the wake of dramatically increasing numbers and environmental damage.
Majorca was the scene of an anti-tourism march as the effect of mass tourism got home to residents. 
Raising the tourist tax to as much as €4 per person per day in peak season will not only help fund ecological projects but also encourage holidaymakers to visit out of season.
A local parliament vote on the changes is taking place later this week, with a view to raising the tariffs in January.
The new rates would be €1 per person per day for campers and hostel guests, €2 for cruise passengers and those staying in cheaper hotels and apartments, €3 for mid-range accommodation, and €4 for top-end hotels. Those under the age of 16 will be exempt and rates will be reduced during the winter months
A record 7.9 million people visited the Balearic Islands between January and July this year, up 7.5 per cent on the same period in 2016. As many as 500 cruise ships now dock in Palma each year, depositing up to 22,000 passengers a day.
Other proposed measures, not currently on the cards, have included tougher restrictions on Airbnb and a ban on tourists arriving by car.
Pilar Carbonell, general director of tourism for the region told the UK Telegraph that the eco-tax added €30 million to government coffers between July and December last year.
Eighty per cent of this was used to finance a total of 46 environmental initiatives, while the remainder was used to promote sustainable holidays and train tourism workers.
"Our mission is to support a sustainable model so that tourism to the islands benefits our local communities," she said.
"We are aware of the seasonal challenges and in particular, the oversaturation of tourists in specific areas during the peak summer months. This is a concern for residents and local businesses and we are looking into a series of measures to address this."
Valere Tjolle
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