Visitors to the Balearic Islands face paying a daily tax of between €1 and €2 from next year design to help protect and improve the island.
Final details are still under consideration with no sign as to whether or not the tax will be introduced before or after the peak season. A cap on the tax is also expected.
The tax would be levied on all visitors to Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera although children are expected to be exempted while the tax will likely be reduced in the off-peak seasons.
The tax would be used to preserve the islands’ natural and cultural beauty as well as make improvements to infrastructure.
Critics of the proposal have said it could drive away tourists, of which there are 3.4 million Brits each year, from the islands.
However, supporters say Barcelona’s introduction of a nightly tax of €0.72 for a maximum of seven nights has had little impact on its own tourism numbers.
It’s not the first time we’ve heard about tourisim taxes in Spain and while the impact on visitor numbers may be minimal if the tax is low, authorities do need to be very careful