Ecotax, the tax for disagreement

The Balearic Parliament passed yesterday, the "Law for the tax on stays in tourist establishments, destined to funds for the improvement of tourist activity and the preservation of the environment" with the votes in favour from the parties in the Progress Pact, including Unió Mallorquina that finally voted in favour of the Law.

The Partido Popular voted against and asked for the withdrawal of the Law on ecotourist tax, classing it as unfair and discriminatory, offering in exchange an alliance to work together against the Central Government for the autonomous financing.

The Greens, although they voted in favour of the Tax, stated like the GOB that the law was too soft. The ecological association thinks that the Tax should be levied on all tourists, not just the ones who stay in tourist and hotel establishments, and think that the tax should be higher in the high season.

The representatives of the hotel industry who attended the parliamentary session stated their deception by the approval of the Tax, and urged the central Government to appeal against the Law. In this sense, the Spanish Chancellor of the Exchequer, Cristóbal Montoro, declared a few hours after the debate that if it is shown that the Ecotax affects an economic activity that already has another tax levied, such as the VAT, the Government will appeal against the unconstitutionality to stop its application.

More information:
Web del Impuesto Ecoturístico, Govern de les Illes Balears.

Related news:
The Balearic Government approves the ecotax (23/6/2000)
The Balearic Government postpones the approval of the ecotax (16/6/2000)
The Balearic public's opinion on the ecotax (3/6/2000)
The ecotax and natural parks - centre of the political and social debate (26/5/2000)
Presentation of the projected law for the Ecotourist Tax (24/5/2000)
GOB: the Balearic Government is delaying too long the start of the eco-tax (13/4/2000)
Ecotax: yes or no? (9/2/2000)
The GOB 'is amazed' at the latest proposal by Tourism on the ecotax (4/11/1999)

Date of publication: 11/04/2001

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