Those who spend the night in Catalonia will pay a higher tourist tax from today, after completing the third extension of an increase that was scheduled for the summer of 2020, but was postponed due to the pandemic.
In the case of the city of Barcelona, it is the second increase this year, since in June the specific surcharge of the Catalan capital came into force, which is 0.75 euros per person and night for any type of accommodation and cruise.
The Generalitat argues that visitor data is improving compared to the worst moments of the pandemic and recalls that the collection -calculated at an additional 6.3 million due to the increase- has a positive impact on the sector because it will be used for tourism promotion.
Government sources consulted by elEconomista emphasize that the rate is paid by visitors, not accommodation, and that the rate is lower than that in force in other European cities, such as Paris, Rome or Venice.
On the contrary, the sector criticizes a rise that comes at a very bad time: at the beginning of the low season and after 18 months of pandemic with millionaire losses and many accommodations still closed due to lack of customers.
With the new tourist tax rates, a visitor staying at a five-star hotel in Barcelona will pay 4.25 euros per person per night, compared to 2.25 before last June, which is almost double .
Customers of four-star hotels in Barcelona also see the rate more than double compared to four months ago, as it goes from 1.1 euros per person per night to 2.45. And so, all types of accommodation see the rate increased to a greater or lesser extent compared to a few months ago.
The Business Confederation of Hotels and Restaurants of Catalonia (ConfeCat) has reproached in a statement that the Generalitat has ignored its request for a new extension in the rate increase, now that “very hard” autumn and winter months are coming after a summer in which, in the city of Barcelona, there have been low occupancy rates despite the fact that half of the hotels were closed.
In the same sense, from the travel agencies, the president of Acave, Martí Sarrate, also regrets that “it is not the right time”, since Barcelona has received 90% less international tourism this summer, and it would have been better to apply one more extension to the rise so as not to lose competitiveness with respect to other destinations.
“It does not help reactivation, essential to preserve jobs and recover the entire value chain linked to travel, from accommodation to travel agencies and guides,” he stressed in statements to elEconomista.
Since the tourist tax was introduced in Catalonia in 2013 and until 2020, it has collected 371 million euros, and the Generalitat argues that, until the pandemic arrived, it was not a brake on the arrival of visitors, which was on the rise, as well as your expense.
In any case, the rise in the rate that applies from today will not be the last, because the Barcelona City Council has already stipulated that its supplement will increase every year until 2024. Thus, the 0.75 euro municipal surcharge in 2021 will go to be €1.75 in 2022, €2.75 in 2023, and €3.25 in 2024.
Facebook Comments
Disqus