Ibiza and Majorca hotels want to scrap tourist tax for 2 years to win back Brits

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Balearic hoteliers have called on the government to put a temporary halt on tourist tax.

Business owners in Ibiza and Majorca hope that lifting the controversial fee will entice Brits back to the islands.

Currently, holidaymakers are required to fork out around £3.50 a night.

And while this may not seem like a lot, it’s an extra £200 for families-of-four who spend a fortnight at the destinations.

Meanwhile, couples who stay on the Balearic islands for a week can expect to pay an additional £50 for their holidays.

The government may not be keen to stop taxing tourists for two years as they rake in around £3 million from the toll during this time period.

Some key players in the tourism industry worry they won’t be to recover after the coronavirus pandemic.

As other destinations may offer cheaper trips, holidaymakers could be drawn there instead.

There’s also fears that Spanish tourists will head to Benidorm and other cheaper locations that tend to be cheaper than the Balearic islands.

President of Tourism Promotion of Ibiza, Alejandro Sancho, says he’s held several meetings to discus the potential to halt tourist tax for two years.

The idea has also been backed by the Hotel Federation of Ibiza and Formentera vice-president.

Juanjo Riera commented: “It is no longer just knowing when Spanish tourists will be able to travel, it is about our main foreign market, which is the British one and we still do not know when it will be able to travel and then comes the Italian market, which is basic for Formentera.

“Competition for the national tourist will be intense.

“Benidorm will not have its main market this year, which is also the British one, and they will seek to fill their hotels with national tourists.”

Either way, it may be a while before Brits can return to the Balaeric Islands.

While Majorca, Ibiza and Menorca may re-open to a limited number of tourists in August, UK residents are unlikely to be included.

Previously, tourism minister Iago Negueruela told local media: “There are countries like the United Kingdom that have taken too long to adopt containment measures and that also puts us in a different situation with respect to them.”