The Balearic Islands government has announced plans to increase tourist taxes and introduce a levy on hire cars for travellers heading to Ibiza, Mallorca, and Menorca this summer. The proposed “tourism containment measures,” introduced last Friday, aim to regulate rental accommodations and ensure sustainable tourism.
The Sustainable Tourism Tax (ITS) is set to rise from €4 to a maximum of €6 per person per night during the peak season. This levy will be collected at four different rates from March to December, while January and February will be exempt. Depending on the property’s category, the increase ranges from 66% to 200% during June, July, and August, with the lowest rate rising from €1 to €2.50 per night. This adjustment means couples planning a two-week stay in the peak months might need to budget an additional €70, totalling €84.
Cruise ship passengers docking in the Balearics will see their nightly tax triple from €2 to €6. Additionally, a new fee for hire cars is under consideration, which will be based on emissions and duration of stay, ranging from €30 to €80.
The government is also considering a ban on new tourist accommodations in residential apartment buildings. Booking platforms will be required to register rental accommodations before listing them, with penalties for advertising unlicensed properties reaching up to €500,000.
These proposals are set to be negotiated in parliament, with the government emphasising their aim to maintain tourism sustainability in the region. The measures follow a series of protests against overtourism across Spain last summer.
