You may need a few extra Euro’s for Barcelona!

You may have seen so news that I recently shared on my Facebook page regarding one of the most popular cruise destinations. Barcelona is a really popular stop on many Mediterranean itineraries because it is a city with many appeals. It has it’s own and harbour and beach, the fantastic Las Ramblas alive with wonderful buildings and a great atmosphere and many bars and restaurants. For any football fan you have the Camp Nou the home of Barcelona FC so all in all in is a city well worth a visit at any time.

Now because Barcelona and rest of the surrounding Catalunya area is very popular and attracts millions of visitors each year. The local government decided in 2012 that they should introduce a regional tourism tax to help with the maintenance and upkeep of the area. the tax has contributed approximately 100 million euros to the regional government’s coffers, taking direct advantage of the fact that around a quarter of all foreign visitors to Spain choose Catalunya as their destination for their stay.

Tourist tax is becoming increasingly common as popular holiday destinations seek a combination of revenue and sustainable tourism; Catalunya isn’t the only region of Spain to have imposed a tax of this nature. A similar scheme has been in place since July this year in the Balearic Islands where overnight stays imply an ‘ecological task’ of between 25 cents and 2 euros per night

I myself have just stayed in Salou for a week in August and had to pay the tax which ok did not break the bank but like many other admit I do not like paying. But I do have to admit after walking around you could see a lot of money had been spent on the resort as a whole with wonderful walkways, dedicated cycle lanes to cut down on traffic, Gorgeous fountains and so many facilities for all to use along the the beach front that goes on for miles and into neighbouring resorts. If that is where the money goes then great as it is the kind of thing that would make you want to go back and spend your money on holiday there so boost the local economy.

My kids on one of the fantastic fountains in Salou!

So I understand that and I can see the logic if I am staying then I pay a tax, it gets spent on the area and I go back but if I just wanted to visit for a few hours why should I have to pay a tax or charge. Surely the news that the Barcelona Town hall feels it should target the visitors who visit for the day from the cruise ships that dock is a wrong one unless they charge it for all as it seems day visitors will be harder to trace so may well not have to pay.

Will they target cruise ship passengers as they see it as easy pickings from people who can afford to pay? Councillor, Gala Pin, has stated that tourists are expensive for the city ‘not only in terms of infrastructure, cleaning and security but also in the terms of floating population that is causng indirect explulsion of local people’. Therefore, a motion presented in the Town Hall of Barcelona has received both support and opposition with its rationale being that the income would compensate for the costs to the local administration of laying on tourist services for visitors.

Surely the money spent by the cruise visitors in shops bars restaurants must cover the cost of maintaining this lovely are and if not why do they not charge a little more in taxes to the local business who in turn can put the costs up a little to cover this. I think people would rather pay a Euro more for a coffee than have to hand it over at a gate.

So, what do you think is it right to introduce a tourist tax, is there a better way to do it? Would it stop you going? Let me know.