3 mayors ready to introduce tourist tax in Andalucía

Granada’s, Seville’s, and Malaga’s mayors announced that they support the introduction of a tourist tax to Andalusia at the “Leading Cities Breakfast Forum” on Thursday, 10th July. 

Marifrán Carazo (Granada), José Luis Sanz (Seville), and Francisco de la Torre (Malaga) felt there was a need for a tax to improve the tourism potential of their cities while funding services for both residents and visitors.

In a discussion, the three mayors supported the tax but stressed that it should be developed with the tourism industry. The three mayors acknowledged that tourism numbers were growing rapidly and called on a “balance”, to minimize negative impacts.

The mayors all agreed that the purpose of a tax on tourists should be clearly defined. De la Torre stressed its potential to offset tourism’s negative effects, like supporting the restoration historic city centres. Carazo cited the Plan Alhambra model in Granada, where visitors’ contributions to the Alhambra monument are used to fund historic building renovations. Sanz proposed that a part of the revenues could be used to fund neighbourhood projects, in an effort to combat “tourism phobia” and show the benefits of tourism for the local population. He also suggested that local councils have the right to decide on whether or not to implement this tax.

They stressed that if the tax is carefully planned, it can improve everyday life, preserve culture, and improve service for all. The mayors stressed the importance of using the funds transparently and efficiently to combat overtourism, while maintaining the charm of these historic Andalusian towns.