Countries currently enjoying buoyant tourism growth are increasingly looking to introduce tourist taxes, which could destabilise the market, an expert has warned, ttg reports.
A number of Mediterranean destinations are set to introduce tariffs this summer. Visitors to Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera will pay up to €2 a day, while Malta will charge holidaymakers €0.5 a night in the hope of raising €6 million a year.
“What is… noteworthy is that governments are beginning to say ‘oh look there are more tourists coming in, let’s take advantage of that,’” said Andy Cooper of Owens Cooper Consulting.
“So all the places that are doing well from tourism are saying ‘let’s get some more cash in.’”
Cooper said that plans were “not necessarily a very clever idea” especially in the current economic climate.
“It does concern [me] that these taxes are fine in a buoyant market where they can take advantage, but will it still work when the market begins to struggle a bit?”
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