Spanish laws prevent Malaga from enforcing a ‘Tourist Tax’

MALAGA TOWN HALL has announced that the Spanish law prevents the municipality from charging a tourist tax. The controversial debate has finally been settled after entrepreneurs on the Costa del Sol heavily criticised the measure.

The government team announced in mid-December that it was considering enforcing what is known as eco-tax. However, Councillor for tourism, Rosa Sánchez, confirmed what the Mayor had already announced: Malaga will not establish the so-called tourism tax because there is no legal framework that allows its implementation.

Business people and sector associations discussed the issue at the Tourist Forum, where experts from the University of Malaga technically analysed the tourist rate. They explained that the only way to charge this rate would be if the Andalucian government approved it.

Other Spanish cities including Barcelona charge €2.25 in all five-star hotels per tourist overnight and €1.6 per day in four-star hotels. Experts were asked by journalists how much Malaga could collect annually with the fee, but the Town Hall has not yet released the figure.

The city, whether in favour or against the rate, has expressed desire to will follow legislation and hasn’t proposed to ask for a regulatory change.