The issue of introducing a tourist tax IEET in Valencia is being considered. It is assumed that this tax could be introduced in order to increase the income of the regional budget and improve the conditions for the development of the tourism industry. The tax will be mandatory for all tourists visiting Valencia and will be charged for staying in hotels, inns and other accommodation facilities.
Will Valencia introduce a tourist tax IEET?
Two regions of Spain, Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, have a tourist tax, IEET, also known as “tasa turistica”. Valencia is also considering introducing one in the near future.
According to Spanish media, the regional government has already approved a decision to introduce an additional tourist tax from 2023. The tax is not mandatory, and each municipality can decide on its own whether to introduce it. Valencia has decided to give the tourism industry another year to recover from the pandemic.
The plans to introduce the tax have drawn criticism from employers’ associations, trade unions, business federations and tourism experts. Most resorts have already said they will never implement the tax, arguing that it would make them less competitive with other popular tourist destinations. Hoteliers’ association Hosbec has even accused the regional government of hating tourism and launched an online petition, “No to the tourist tax”, together with the Valencian Business Confederation.
However, on March 31, the regional government, representing a coalition of several parties, adopted a document that sets out the rules for collecting the new tax, as well as the official date for its introduction – early 2023.
The law will be regional in nature, and municipalities will have the opportunity to independently decide on the introduction of this tax.
The IEET tourist tax will be applied to tourists staying in various types of accommodation such as hotels, inns, tourist apartments, rural houses, campsites and hostels in the region. In addition, tourists arriving on cruise ships that call at the ports of the autonomous region will be required to pay this tax, even if they do not spend the night there.
Owners of tourist establishments are responsible for collecting the tax.
Tourists under 16 years of age, participants in social tourism programs such as Imserso, medical tourists and refugees are immune from paying the tax.
The tax varies from 50 cents per night in campsites and hotels to 2 euros per night in 4-5 star hotels. Tourists arriving on cruise ships will have to pay 1.5 euros per night.
The funds collected from this tax will be directed to local councils to optimize tourism infrastructure and the quality of tourism services, improve working conditions in the industry and protect the environment.
It is not yet known whether the tax will be applied only during the summer season or whether it will be collected all year round. In addition, questions remain open regarding the collection of the tax by participants in scientific congresses and conferences, as well as tourist yachts. It is expected that the issues will be resolved in the near future.
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