Francisco de la Torre, the Mayor of Malaga, wants the government to impose a “€2 or €3 tourist tax” for overnight accommodation in tourist homes and hotels in the city.
In a letter directed to several authorities, including here the Spanish prime minister and ministers of tourism and urban development, the Mayor asked for the creation of a legal framework that would require tourists to pay a daily tax for each day they spend in Malaga. Schengen.News reports.
He also pointed out that by implementing such a measure, the Central government would allow the city council to establish a tourist tax that mitigates the negative effects that tourist activities often have on the residents.
Mayor Pushes for Taxes Due to Housing Shortages & Rising Rent Prices in Malaga
The Mayor has addressed the government officials to address problems that resulted from the rise in short-term tourist rentals.
Residents of Malaga, in efforts to improve their financial situation, often rent their houses, which has led to a housing shortage, as many properties are being used as tourist rentals, while the limited supply of long-term properties is raising the prices of rents and housing in the city.
The mayor plans to use the revenues generated from the tourist tax to help low-income families with housing issues and promote quality tourism.
Porto in Portugal Also Plans to Raise Tourist Taxes Soon
Porto has become the newest city in Portugal to raise tourist taxes in an effort to improve the tourism services it offers while also improving the life quality of residents.
The city council has recently approved a bill to raise tourist taxes for overnight stays from €2 to €3. This measure has not yet been implemented, and some critics fear that it could cause dissatisfaction among tourists.
Regardless, there are several cities and regions in Portugal that have already introduced tourism taxes, with the Algarve region, the Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Faro, Olhao and Portimao being some of them. In addition, Lisbon has also introduced a tourist tax for visitors.
Tourists to these places have to pay a €1 fee for each night they spend in their accommodation spots between November and February, which is the low season, while the prices are higher – €2 for nights spent between March and October, known as the high season.
Source: https://schengen.news/spains-malaga-wants-to-impose-daily-tourist-tax-of-up-to-e3/
