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AIBU?

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Original poster

Can we be made to pay this holiday tax in Majorca/Ibiza?

130 replies

DaisyArcher · 21/05/2016 08:58

We're off to Majorca in July and have just received this email from Thomson

Authorities in the Balearic Islands of Formentera, Ibiza, Majorca and Menorca have introduced a Sustainable Tourism Tax on tourists visiting the islands which the government will use to help preserve their natural beauty and cultural heritage

The charge of up to €2.20 per person, per night, on all overnight stays in tourist accommodation comes into force on July 1st 2016. It will be paid directly at your hotel and we would advise our customers to be prepared to pay upon arrival

It applies to everyone aged over 16. As we're going for 10 nights and are taking my nephew (16) and niece (17) that's going to add €88 (£68) to our holiday. What would happen if all Brits said 'no - were not bloody paying it!'

OP posts:
Peppapogstillonaloop · 21/05/2016 09:33

Oh Fgs it's £68!! Suck it up

MrsJayy · 21/05/2016 09:33

You do sound really unpleasant and a bit Brit abroad actually

AnyFucker · 21/05/2016 09:35

No! She's British ! How dare those for forriners insult her imperial position! I bet the queen doesn't pay it !

Etc

Original poster
DaisyArcher · 21/05/2016 09:36

It applies to all tourists not just AI. We're only going AI because of the cousins. So even if we were doing our usual shop for food at the Eroski and eating in the restaurants run by lovely locals then we'd still be charged this.

My point is that it isn't fair to do it retrospectively and I don't believe it'll be spent on nature and culture!

OP posts:
Costacoffeeplease · 21/05/2016 09:36

Tough

Lweji · 21/05/2016 09:36

If anything, you could try and cancel the trip with Thompson, or get money off your holiday, but it looks like an unpredictable cost, which you should always budget for.

var123 · 21/05/2016 09:36

Yes, you can be forced to pay it. The government has introduced the tax for you, not the holiday company. You enter the country and check in to tourist accommodation and you become liable for it.

Its a tax and cannot legally be avoided.

MrsJayy · 21/05/2016 09:37

It wouldnt enter my head not to pay a local tax regardless of what I had spent on holiday

OwnedByACat · 21/05/2016 09:37

I find it really surprising that you are even questioning it. It is a tax of the country. To not pay would be breaking the law.

Lweji · 21/05/2016 09:38

My point is that it isn't fair to do it retrospectively

it's not. They are not charging you for last year's holiday. And you're not paying Thompson for it.
It's a new charge and unexpected, but it's not retrospective.

I don't believe it'll be spent on nature and culture!
That is not your problem. It's a local charge. You have to pay it. Or choose not to go.

MrsJayy · 21/05/2016 09:38

What do you think it will be spent on then?

var123 · 21/05/2016 09:39

And you are almost 100% right - it won't be spent on culture. Most likely its the government trying to make sure that the Spanish tax payer gets some of your money for help in maintaining the environment.

Savagebeauty · 21/05/2016 09:39

Actually don't pay it.
And come back and tell us what happened Wink

Costacoffeeplease · 21/05/2016 09:39

Maybe it's for the mayor's champagne at his Christmas party - it doesn't matter, it's a tax not a voluntary contribution

HoneyDragon · 21/05/2016 09:39

No one ever ever ever ever likes or believes what taxes are spent on. It's a fundamental fact of being. If you don't pay your taxes with deep suspicion, distrust and low grade resentment your doing it wrong. Or are Phillip Green.

Suck it up buttercup.

Original poster
DaisyArcher · 21/05/2016 09:41

OK - the overwhelming opinion is that I am BU so I accept that I am Smile

OP posts:
leelu66 · 21/05/2016 09:41

So why don't you vote with your feet and cancel your holiday to a country that you believe is misappropriating taxes meant for preserving cultural heritage?

No? Thought so.

The tourist industry brings alot of challenges - sewage, rubbish, use of water for showers, all that towels/sheet washing...all of that has a detrimental impact on the environment.

Lweji · 21/05/2016 09:42

Well done Daisy. :)

LyndaNotLinda · 21/05/2016 09:42

When did you book the holiday? They announced it in March. Also, it's cheaper if you're staying in a cheap hotel.

Bullshit that you can't afford £68 if you're going AI for 10 days Hmm

HoneyDragon · 21/05/2016 09:42

Actually if we did charge this in the UKwe could totes bling up Stonehenge.

Oooooh and afford to boot the MPs out of Houses of Parliament and build them a large concrete municipal building in Milton Keynes and make HOP into a tourist attraction so that furriners can learn the history of British elitism.

DeathStare · 21/05/2016 09:42

They aren't imposing it retrospectively as you claim - you've not gone yet. If you'd been at Easter and they sent you a bill through the post that would be retrospectively.

It's £17 per person that each of you has at least 6 weeks to save for. So less than £2.50 each a week for you to save. Even the teenagers could suck that up.

ilovesooty · 21/05/2016 09:43

The Netherlands has it too.

I agree with those who think your attitude is really unpleasant. It's a legal tax, you have to pay it and I assume it would be more costly to cancel your holiday. If the country introduced road tolls do you think tourists can refuse to pay those as well?

HoneyDragon · 21/05/2016 09:43

BrewCake for admitting you're unreasonable. It's on me though, you've got £70 to save up Grin

MrsJayy · 21/05/2016 09:43

Daisy you goin AI mean you will not leave the resort and have a gander about the area that would drive me nuts id need to go out and have a look at their nature and culture be £68 well spent Grin

LunaLoveg00d · 21/05/2016 09:44

Lots of countries have this. In Mexico we had to pay £50 per person "departure tax" although the tour operator dealt with it on our behalf and we didn't have to hand over cash at the airport as many do.

The Spanish economy isn't exactly flush with money and it's hardly a lot you're being expected to pay. You can't opt in and out of taxes you don't fancy paying.