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Date Published: 24/01/2022

ARCHIVED - Costa Blanca fury over tourist tax as Alicante says it is betting on British tourists

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Tourism officials on the Costa Blanca say they will 'never' introduce the proposed tax

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Costa Blanca fury over tourist tax as Alicante says it is betting on British tourists

Tourism representatives on the Costa Blanca have hit out against regional government plans to introduce a tourist tax from 2023 and vowed "never" to introduce it, claiming the authorities are "betting on" British tourists.

The move will see holidaymakers charged between 50 cents and two euros per night to stay in hotels and other tourist accommodation in the region, including campsites and holiday apartments.

But the hotel employers' association Hosbec has argued that the tax on tourist stays has been approved "by those who hate tourism".

The tax will be voluntary and most of the popular resorts on the Costa Blanca have already refused to implement it, fearing it will make the region less competitive to British and other holidaymakers compared to the rest of Spain.

According to Alicante's provincial president and head of the Costa Blanca Tourist Board, Carlos Mazón, 90% of hotel beds in Benidorm will not be imposing the tourist tax.

A spokesperson for the hotel industry said: "Since there is no economic or tax reason to justify this initiative, we can only think that there are other political interests behind this proposal that is beyond our scope and capacity of understanding."

According to PSPV spokesman, Manolo Mata, local councils will be given the freedom to decide whether they want to apply the overnight stay tourist tax, arguing that it is the "most reasonable way forward". But he added that a concerted effort will be made to convince town councils and institutions linked to tourism to "commit to applying the tax, which is very common in Europe".

However, Carlos Mazón, also president of Valencia's Partido Popular (People's Party), has slammed the tax as a "direct attack on the productive model of the Valencia region".

"President Ximo Puig and his government have not taken into account the situation of the sector and what is most beneficial for the interests of Valencians."

He argued that the return of British tourists this year was a key priority for Alicante's tourism industry.

"We continue to bet on British tourism through contacts and meetings now that some of the travel restrictions are beginning to be relaxed. Instead of laying out a red carpet and brass band for tourists eager to come and invest in the region's resorts, they want to raise the price. This is the last message we should be sending to international markets."

Also read: UK travel searches to the Costa Blanca soar following relaxation of restrictions

Mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez added, "The local authority in Benidorm has always defended the 'no and never' approach to the tourist tax.

"We do not understand how forcing a visitor to pay a fee is the best example of hospitality and Benidorm will not be applying it."

Last week, Benidorm Town Hall revealed plans to create a 'Care Lab' focusing on healthy ageing in a bid to attract low season visitors and position itself as a leading competitor in the senior tourism market.

Image: Archive

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