Visitors ought to dig deeper into theirwallets for vacationing in Mallorca.
Visitors to Mallorca will need to dig deeper into their pockets for their summer getaways starting next year, as the island grapples with a long-standing tourism problem. The local populace has been complaining for years about rowdy, intoxicated, and occasionally hostile vacationers. In response, the government has proposed a tax hike to address this issue, as per the declaration made by President Marga Prohens in parliament.
During the summer months of June to August, the eco-tourism tax will see an increase, while it will decrease during the winter months of December to February. Prohens' objective is to control the influx of foreign tourists during the peak summer season. In parliament, she referred to the tax increase as a "discouragement strategy," as reported by the "Mallorca Zeitung."
The specific amount by which the tourism tax will be raised or lowered has yet to be disclosed by the President of the Balearic Islands. More information will be provided in February when Prohens releases a decree outlining additional measures against mass tourism.
Shifting focus from tourism
With this suite of measures, the Balearic government is taking its first step towards transitioning away from tourism as its primary revenue source. Prohens announced earlier this week her intention to spearhead initiatives aimed at reshaping the economic model. She's considering boosting the fields of science and artificial intelligence, encouraging reindustrialization in the Balearics, and focusing more on the energy transition.
In her second year as President, Prohens also intends to address water scarcity and housing shortages on Mallorca. She also announced plans for educational investments. However, she failed to provide further insights into her strategies for achieving these goals.
Other sectors, such as science and artificial intelligence, will possibly receive more attention and funding under Prohens' proposed economic model shift. The government aims to reduce its reliance on tourism revenue with this change in focus.
