Tourist Tax?

[Birty]

I visited in July with Thomsons and on arrival at the hotel I was hit with a bill for Tourist tax which I wasn't made aware of. I reluctantly paid as advised by other guests but again aI visited in September to an apartment from Owners direct and this time no mention of any Tax! Is the apartment owner avoiding the issue or should Thomsons Hotel (Globals Simar) not have charged me? Just wondering what should happen next time I visit?

 

[Sparky]

Thomsons were correct, all hotels have to collect the tourist tax from guests .

 

[Gommar Goffer]

it could be that the apartment owner has decided to pay the tax from the rental proceeds or it could be that they have decided to ignore it and not collect/pay it.

 

[El Gordo]

it could be that the apartment owner has decided to pay the tax from the rental proceeds or it could be that they have decided to ignore it and not collect/pay it.

Unless it was an official "Tourist" Apartment, usually designated with a number of Keys, like Hotel Stars, it will have been an illegal rental and outside of the current legislation.

 

[pollensafan]

There is of course another possibility. The owner might not even have been aware of the tax.

The only reason I say that is because when I was out earlier in the year, I was talking to my friends about it and the lady on the next table leaned across and apologised for interrupting . She then said she had owned an apartment she had rented for years, but knew nothing about this new tax.

I then tried to explain as best I could what it was all about.
So, you had the mad scenario of a tourist trying o explain to a property owner, the tax on rentals that she should be paying.

Her excuse was that she never read any local news even though she lived there or bought any newspapers.

 

[Birty]

Ok Thanks for info, Interesting stuff.. I do wonder where the cash goes. Lets hope it does go to the green issues as intended?

 

[El Gordo]

....................... I do wonder where the cash goes. Lets hope it does go to the green issues as intended?

It has been reported that some of the money was spent purchasing land at Son Real to allow traditional activities like Thrush hunting etc

 

[pollensafan]

It has been reported that some of the money was spent purchasing land at Son Real to allow traditional activities like Thrush hunting etc

For the sake of Madam " S " having to warn about going off topic I am going to resist the urge to pile in with Bird related quips, but I have no doubt she will be keeping an eagle on me On no, it just slipped out.

 

[Bircho]

For the sake of Madam " S " having to warn about going off topic I am going to resist the urge to pile in with Bird related quips, but I have no doubt she will be keeping an eagle on me On no, it just slipped out.

Watch out. She will be owling at that one.

 

[Shaun&Caro]

Watch out.

Better beak quiet then....

 

[pollensafan]

Oh dear, If you're watching madam " S " and looking for someone to blame , it's got nothing to do with me.

 

[Bircho]

Oh dear, If you're watching madam " S " and looking for someone to blame , it's got nothing to do with me.

Don't count your chickens before they're hatched. It's like water of a ducks back to her. What is good for the goose ......

 

[Sparky]

A report from the MDB :-

Tourist tax rates from 1 May to 31 October

The Balearic tourist tax (sustainable tourism tax) doubles on 1 May. The rates apply to the six months of the main season, i.e. until the end of October.

The rates are chargeable per person per night. There is a 50% reduction after eight nights. Children aged 16 and under are exempt.

- One, two, three star hotels: Two euros.
- Three star superior and four star: Three euros.
- Four star superior and five star: Four euros.

The above rates also apply to licensed tourist apartment accommodation that is classified according to the key system as opposed to the star ratings.

- Holiday rental accommodation, e.g. villas: Two euros.
- Rural hotels, agrotourism, interior hotels: Two euros.
- Hostels, camping, pensions, refuges: One euro.

Ten per cent IVA (VAT) is added to the total amount.

Payment of the tax is normally requested on arrival, e.g. hotel check-in.

The full story can be read here :- https://majorcadailybulletin.com/news/local/2018/05/01/51735/tourist-tax-rates-from-may-october.html

 

[Miller]

A report from the MDB :-



The full story can be read here :- https://majorcadailybulletin.com/news/local/2018/05/01/51735/tourist-tax-rates-from-may-october.html

Sparky, in the above message you state that for stays over 8 days there is a 50% reduction. Does this only apply to single trips or as in my case we have 2 or 3 trips of 14 days each year can it be applied on a cumulative basis. We stay at the same aparthotel.
For a total of say 42 nights the saving for 2 of us is worth looking into.
Thanks

 

[Sparky]

I am pretty sure it only applies to single trips.

 

[Miller]

I am pretty sure it only applies to single trips.

Sparky, thanks. I will discuss with my aparthotel next month and keep you advised of results.

 

[Sparky]

Sparky, thanks. I will discuss with my aparthotel next month and keep you advised of results.

Please do Miller .

 

[mike_dublin]

Ok Thanks for info, Interesting stuff.. I do wonder where the cash goes. Lets hope it does go to the green issues as intended?

Not quite, as it seems...

https://www.majorcadailybulletin.co...mmed-over-tourist-tax-spending-decisions.html

Following the announcement of how 2019 tourist tax revenue is to be spent, environmentalists Amics de la Terra (Friends of the Earth) and GOB issued a joint statement in which they described the management of the tourist tax as a "fraud". The statement said that "the management of the tax is a fraud in terms of the initial spirit of the sustainable tourism tax and the purposes for which it was conceived".

The Arca heritage association called the tax a "hotch-potch" that is being used to fill holes in the government's budget. ...

...

Felib is the federation of town halls. Its secretary, Neus Serra, said that the town halls are wasting their time in presenting project proposals for receiving tourist tax funding. None of the 36 projects submitted by town halls are to get funding.

...

Jordi Mora, president of the Pimem small to medium-sized businesses federation, believed that tourists are being tricked into thinking that tourist tax-funded projects are for alleviating the impact of tourism on the environment. In this regard, he referred to the use of tax revenue for the extension of the Palma Metro and for social housing. "We are lying to visitors; this tax is becoming a mere collection tool."

... A chief criticism is the fact that spending decisions are already made by the government before they are discussed by the committee, membership of which is weighed in the government's favour.

see full article on the MDB website

 

[P&C@29]

So we tourists are just cash cows to fund Mallorca's treasury, and to not help environmental issues on the Island.

 

[Rosie34]

This has just reminded me - we had to pay cash tourist tax in June, but on our last trip (different accommodation) there was no mention of it