Salou asks that the new tourist tax reduce the tax pressure on the citizens of Salou
Salou. Costa Dorada. 28 February 2025. Yes to the increase in the tourist tax announced by the Government of the Generalitat of Catalonia, but that the increase serves to reduce the tax pressure on the citizens of Salou. This is how forcefully the mayor of Salou, Pere Granados, has expressed it, who has recalled that this reduction in tax pressure has been a demand of tourist municipalities such as Salou for some time.
The argument is easy to explain: the services that a tourist municipality offers to tourists and visitors (cleaning, waste collection, security, lighting, etc.) are paid for with the taxes of the people of Salou. Until now, the tourist tax collected for overnight stays in any tourist accommodation or cruise is destined for tourism sector.
In this sense, Granados has said that “the tourist must be responsible and supportive of the tourist destination they visit” and for this reason he has asked that “this tourist tax goes entirely to all municipalities that receive tourists”.
Following the announcement of the pact between the PSC and the Comuns, the tourist tax is doubled in all accommodations in Catalonia, and in addition a part of the revenue (15%) will be allocated to housing.
According to the agreement of the Government, the tourist tax may go from the current 3 euros for a stay in a 5-star hotel to 6 euros. In addition, the town councils will be able to apply a surcharge, which until now could only be applied in Barcelona, and which can be a maximum of 4 euros, so that the maximum tourist tax per person and night in a 5-star hotel would be 10 euros, except in Barcelona where it can reach a maximum of 15 euros.
It should be remembered that Salou is the second destination in Catalonia that generates the most income from the tourist tax, only behind Barcelona, which has a higher rate than the rest of the country. In 2023, Salou collected 5 million euros from this tax.
What is the tourist tax?
The tourist tax is a tax paid by people who stay in a tourist establishment of any type: hotel, apartment hotel, hostel, guest house, tourist apartment, campsite, rural tourism establishment, tourist accommodation, shared home, youth hostel that provides tourist accommodation services or tourist cruise ship.
The amount to be paid is calculated based on the number of stays, with or without overnight stay, and the category of the establishment. Payment is made through the tourist establishment, which includes the concept and amount on the invoice issued for the stay. The establishment then pays the tax to the administration.
The proceeds are shared between the Generalitat and the municipality where they were collected and are exclusively destined for the tourism sector.
Tags: tourism
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