New holiday tax Greece

[CameronK]

Hi everyone, received an email from easyJet regarding Greeces new compulsory tourism tax to help with natural disasters caused by climate change. It's based on a star system so a 4* stay will cost me 49 euro. Quite rubbish when you've already paid so much for a holiday and going to contribute by being a tourist over there spending your money. Now they want to take it before you've even put your bags away. Just wanted to get people's opinion on this as it just feels like a way to get us to pay for something everybody knows is happening around the world, climate change has been going on for years it's not new news.

Yes climate change has been around for years, sadly sweet FA has been done about it and now we are all going to pay and its going to cost us more than 49e. I dont blame Greece for doing this, they are one of the countries at the forefront of climate change. We need sustanable tourism, if such a thing can really exist.

Don’t want to pay it? Go somewhere else and stop moaning.

I think if you want to go to Greece you have to follow their rules 🤷‍♀️

Choose somewhere else if you don’t wish to pay.

€49 is hardly going to break the bank.

It’s not new in most places. Almost every country in the world has for years and years has a tourist tax. Some based on per person per night fixed cost, others a % of room cost.

For example it’s a fixed €2.25 per over 16 per night where I live. It’s not for climate issues, it’s for all the extra costs of tourists. Our small town wouldn’t need to maintain the roads/ parking/ beaches/ public gardens/ new water fountains/ benches/ host music nights and entertainment/ bigger supermarket etc etc half as much if we didn’t get tourists. Normal population around 3000, summer tourists 25000 per night.

The tourist tax is nothing to do with your hotel costs. If you pay hotel £1000, hotel keeps your £1000 and does what it wants with it. 100% of the tourist tax you give is collected from the town council each month from the hotel towards anything council needs related to tourists

Pay tax to go to Greece? Greece would have to pay me if they wanted me to go there.

Yeah, Greece is so ghastly isn’t it? The warm seas, the beautiful beaches, thousands of years of history, lovely towns to wander around. Nightmare.

It's not new, they just increased it. If you don't like it, go elsewhere.

Get a grip. If you can afford a holiday you can afford this.

Okay everyone I was simply stating that 49 euro on top of everything when you've already paid so much is a joke. I'm glad to hear that doesn't break the bank for some but irregardless these taxes should be paid upfront when booking the holiday to be paid to the hotel. You shouldn't have to pay for the holiday then go there to pay more for your holiday. For those who say go elsewhere, quite difficult when you receive the email past the point of not losing your deposit by changing destination... so it will be cheaper for me to pay the tax then cancel at this point. I will pay the tax just like everyone else has and will have to. I hope to enjoy the holiday regardless of this tax as it's one off.

Well, this is my first time staying there so forgive me for being unaware of this.

We’ve paid a tourist tax to holiday in Majorca a few times, tbh it’s put us off as holidays have become so expensive and we spend a fair bit of money when we are there, we now choose to holiday elsewhere that doesn’t require a tourist tax.

Irregardless isn't a word. And YABU. Any country in the world has the right to set it's own laws and impose them on visitors. If you don't like them, holiday elsewhere.

Okay, I think you need to read the thread through after the initial question... I think you'll find "irregardless" is a word in the dictionary. So before you question somebodies spelling I'd recommend you get your facts straight and calm down lil keyboard warrior!

14 countries in Europe have tourist taxes either everywhere or in some cities/resorts.

In Amsterdam it's 7% of the accommodation price plus a flat rate of €3 (£2.61) per person per night

Thanks, for an actual response that's decent! This is my first holiday abroad in a long time and as a family the first. So we aren't aware and haven't been aware of anything like this. Holidays are expensive and you will pay a lot when you're there which will all be taxed. So why is it unreasonable to complain about taxes? We all complain about taxes here as it's extortionate...

We went to mexico last year and they have a tourist tax that goes directly to environmental projects, some of which we visited.
I think its a great idea as long as its known about upfront and you factor it into the cost of the holiday.

Tourism taxes aren't new, as above posters have said.
You're aware of it at booking so if you don't want to pay it, choose somewhere else.
And stop snarking at people just because you didn't already know.

Why do people have to post such shitty replies?
OP is just having a moan about a charge imposed AFTER she has booked and paid for holiday.
I have no issue with the charge, as long as its used for purpose BTW, but some posters are like fucking rottweilers 🤨

Anyways, OP , yeah, it's a bit of a pain them adding it after you've booked, but it will be worth it, just think of the warm seas and wonderful food - that extra tax might keep it that way😁 Enjoy your holiday!

Said the pot to the kettle.

Just to make people aware, I wasn't aware at the time of booking about this tax. I was made aware only less than 60 days before which means I would lose my deposit if I changed, so obviously I will pay the tax. This is our first holiday as a family abroad in a long time so i am not or haven't been aware of any taxes like this. So please forgive me for being blissfully unaware at that point rather than some grilling me on it. If I was made aware before and knew it was a thing I wouldn't have even made the post. I just wanted to know if it's something that had been around and get opinions. Not all the negativity!

I love how in Italy it's compulsory to pay in cash. Like I really believe that's going somewhere official

But yes, has been a thing in many countries for a while.

@tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz - probably because owners have to pay 100% to council. So if you pay card and they have to pay card transaction fees on something they get no benefit from, they are actually out of pocket?

You pay say €30 tourist tax, card company charges 2%. 0.60cents to card company. Then at end of month hotel or apartment pays €30 to council. They are now 0.60cents loss, for money that isn’t theirs to keep. If it’s a big hotel then that’s x potentially a hundred rooms, across the year they would loose a fair amount

They should definitely charge it in London if they don't already.

I get it that it's just another cost on top of a holiday, and a bit of a money grab in general, but I actually don't mind paying it for Greece and all the widespread wildfires etc they had last summer.