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Date Published: 04/02/2022

ARCHIVED - Costa Blanca hoteliers launch anti-tourist tax campaign

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Valencia business and employers' associations have organised a petition against regional government plans to introduce a tourist tax from 2023

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Costa Blanca hoteliers launch anti-tourist tax campaign

Hoteliers and employers' associations on the Costa Blanca have joined a growing opposition to regional government plans to introduce a tourist tax from 2023, and launched their own campaign to have the proposal scrapped.

The move will see holidaymakers having to fork out between 50 cents and two euros per night to stay in hotels, holiday apartments and campsites in the region from next year.

The tax will be voluntary and the majority of popular resorts and destinations in Alicante province have already made it very clear they will "never" introduce the proposed tax.

Hotel employers' association Hosbec, argued last week that the tax had been approved by "those who hate tourism", and warned it will make the region less competitive to holidaymakers, in particular the area's biggest market, the British.

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Now Hosbec has joined forces with the Business Confederation of the Valencian Community (CEV) and launched an online platform called 'No to Tourist Tax', to collect signatures against the government plans.

According to the two groups, the aim is to "gather business and social support against this tax that would seriously hinder the competitiveness of the sector".

The petition has already gained more than 1,200 signatures, including mayors, presidents of tourism boards and other representatives from the sector.

"There is no place in the recovery of the tourism industry for an increase in the tax burden. Policies must be aimed at increasing quality, improving the tourist product and facilitating the arrival of tourists. Under no circumstances should a tax increase be imposed at a time that could reduce the competitiveness of destinations in the Valencia Region," said CEV in a statement.

Hosbec has also argued that it's counterproductive to limit the capacity of tourist spending when "the sector is still far from pre-pandemic levels of employment and turnover".

Recent studies estimate that full recovery will not be achieved until 2024, provided the Covid situation develops accordingly.

And as such, the sector fears "a new tax would have the perverse effect of boosting the underground economy, with uncontrolled and unregulated accommodation" and recommends the government "addresses the economic reality" that tourism profitability in the region in currently 10% below the national average.

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