In the latest blow for Brit tourists – cruise companies threaten to boycott Mallorca and Ibiza over new tourism tax
Cruise companies want the Balearic Government to change its mind about charging passengers €2 a day under new tourist tax rules
CRUISE liners are threatening to shun Mallorca and Ibiza unless the Balearic Government changes its mind about charging passengers €2 a day under the new tourist tax rules.
The association of cruise companies in Europe, the Cruise Lines International Association says the new fee is undemocratic and could force companies to leave the islands out of its routes.
And it says that, unless the Balearics rescinds the decision to slap the tourist tax on all cruise passengers for the first time next year, it might take the issue to court.
The government has already come under fire for doubling the so-called "eco tax" for holidaymakers in the high season of 2018, meaning guests in luxury accommodation will pay up to €4 a day.
Until now, cruise ship passengers have been exempt from the fee unless they were docked for more than 12 hours.
From summer 2018, however, they could be forced to pay €2 a day regardless of the duration of the stay - which will generate revenue of about €1.8 million.
Hoteliers in Mallorca had already complained about the doubling of the tourist tax, warning it could mean the loss of up to 1m holidaymakers when places like Turkey and Egypt are bouncing back.
Now, according to the Balearic press, the cruise association has waded into the row, slamming the charge as violating people's rights and discriminatory.
They say it is illegal and have presented an objection to the government's draft budget.
CLIA Europe is the largest cruise association in the world and represents 45 companies - and among those are regular visitors to the islands like Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Thomson and Tui.
The association says the tourist tax on cruise ship passengers could have an adverse economic effect, both for the traveller and the company, as liners might choose to go elsewhere.
And it says this possibility gets stronger as the Med destinations become more stable and cruise ships return to their old haunts.
Guests staying in hotels, city hotels, five-star apartment hotels, five-star luxury and four-star superiors will pay €4 per day from next April; those of four stars and three stars superior, €3; those of one, two and three stars, €2.
As for tourist apartments, holidaymakers staying in four-keys and four upper keys will pay €4 per day; three keys upper, €3; one, two and three keys, €2.
In rural hotels, it will be €2 per day; in hostels, pensions, inns, tourist camps and campsites, as well as shelters , it will be €2.
The tourist tax is not being doubled for the low season of November to April because the islands want to encourage more visitors during the winter season.
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The Balearic Government has dismissed the hoteliers' fears, saying the ecotax would still be "the lowest in Europe" compared to Brussels (average cost of €8), Florence (€5) and Amsterdam (€3).
Tourist spending has so far not been affected, with latest figures suggesting there had been a six per cent increase in daily spending per person during the second quarter of this year.
The government also says that it is not numbers which count, but the amount tourists spend.