Spain warns EU’s proposed ‘tourist tax’ on Brits ‘will pose a threat’ to their economy and British holidaymakers will look elsewhere

Spain’s tourism leaders have warned they could lose millions of British holidaymakers if the European Union introduces a tourist tax later this year.

Spain’s tourism board says it could spell big trouble for the country if the EU imposes the fee, which would force non-EU visitors to pay seven euros (£6.20).

The set, called the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), will apply to travelers visiting the Schengen area from November.

The tourism board called the tax a “threat” and said it risked undermining Spain’s tourism sector at its first general meeting of the year.

In a statement after the meeting, the board said: “The Tourism Association is particularly concerned about the impact of this tax on UK tourism, our main emission market with 18 million arrivals in 2019.

“It must also be taken into account that the measure – if implemented – will be added to the remaining local taxes that tourists already pay to visit certain European cities.”

Another concern of the meeting was Lufthansa’s plan to turn Rome Fiumicino airport into its new hub for intercontinental routes to Asia, the Americas and Africa.

“This move will undermine the Madrid Barajas hub, which currently focuses air traffic on Latin America, and consequently reduce the relevance of the Spanish brand,” the tourism association said.

Juan Molas, president of the Spanish Tourism Authority, said: “We are issuing a warning about these two warnings, which seem to go unnoticed but pose two potential threats to the competitiveness of the Spanish tourism sector.”

The ETIAS applies to visitors from 63 countries – including the UK – outside the European Union. It was first confirmed by the EU in August 2021.

The system is similar to the United States’ Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which allows citizens of 40 countries to stay visa-free for 90 days.

Like the US system, the ETIAS allows people visa-free entry for up to 90 days, during which visitors are not allowed to work or study but can “engage in business and tourism activities,” according to the Schengen Visa Info website .

The EU version is valid for up to three years and applies to multiple entries. Those under 18 and over 70 are exempt from the fee.

The website states that visitors “can enter the Schengen member states as many times as you like, as long as your ETIAS is valid and you have not stayed more than 90 days in any 180-day period”.