Title : Cruise liners may BOYCOTT Majorca and Ibiza
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Cruise liners may BOYCOTT Majorca and Ibiza
- The Cruise Lines International Association says the new fee is undemocratic
- Cruise passengers had been exempt from the new Balearics tourist tax charge
- But now the authorities want them to pay two euros for every day on the islands
- Cruise association has threatened legal action and might leave islands off routes
Cruise liners are threatening to shun Majorca and Ibiza unless the Balearic government changes its mind about charging passengers two euros (£1.78) a day to stay on the islands under the new tourist tax rules.
The association of cruise companies in Europe, the Cruise Lines International Association, says the new fee is undemocratic and could force companies to leave the islands out of its routes.
And it says that unless the Balearics rescinds the decision to slap the tourist tax on all cruise passengers for the first time next year, it might take the issue to court.
Cruise liners represented by the Cruise Lines International Association are threatening to boycott Majorca and Ibiza over the tourist tax for cruise passengers
The islands' government has already come under fire for doubling the so-called eco tax for all holidaymakers in the high season of 2018, meaning guests in luxury accommodation will pay a much as four euros (£3.56) a day.
Until now, cruise ship passengers have been exempt from the fee unless they were docked for more than 12 hours.
But from summer 2018, they will pay two euros a day regardless of the duration of the stay and the Balearic government says this move alone will generate revenue of about 1.8 million euros (£1.6million).
Hoteliers in Majorca had already sounded a warning about the doubling of the tourist tax, warning it could mean the loss of up to one million holidaymakers, especially when other competing destinations like Turkey and Egypt are bouncing back.
And now, according to the Balearic press, the cruise association has waded into the row, slamming the charge as violating people's rights, discriminatory and going against the Constitution.
They say it is illegal and have presented an objection to the government's draft budget. The association wants the Balearic Government to change its mind.
From summer 2018 cruise passenger will pay two euros a day regardless of the duration of the stay on Majorca and Ibiza
CLIA Europe is the largest cruise association in the world and represents 45 companies, among which are constant visitors to the islands, such as Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and Tui.
The association says the tourist tax on cruise ship passengers could have an adverse economic effect, both for the traveller and the company, and liners might choose to go elsewhere.
And it says this possibility gets stronger as the Med destinations become more stable and cruise ships return to their old haunts.
Guests staying in hotels, five-star apartment hotels, five-star luxury and four-star superiors will pay four euros per day from next April; those of four stars and three stars superior, three euros; those of one, two and three stars, two euros.
The government of the Balearics, which includes Ibiza, pictured, has dismissed fears the tax will have a negative impact on visitor numbers
As for tourist apartments, holidaymakers staying in 'four-key' and 'four upper key' accommodation will pay four euros per day; three keys upper, three euros; one, two and three keys, two euros.
In rural hotels, it will be two euros per day; in hostels, inns, tourist camps and campsites, as well as shelters, it will be two euros.
The tourist tax is not being doubled for the low season of November to April because the islands want to encourage more visitors during the winter season.
The Balearic Government has dismissed the hoteliers' fears, saying the eco tax will not have a negative impact on visitor numbers to the islands and would still be 'the lowest in Europe' compared to Brussels, Florence and Amsterdam.
Tourist spending has so far not been affected, with latest figures suggesting there had been an six per cent increase in daily spending per person during the second quarter of this year.
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