Growing anger in Spain over EU ‘tourist tax’ on Brits as Costa del Sol launches attack on Brussels system, fears could drive away British holidaymakers

The Costa del Sol has a blistering message to leave tourism alone as fears mount over a new EU tourist tax.

Tourism leaders say they are “totally against the idea” and are making even more money available to Britons every time they want to holiday in Spain.

And in a very clear message to the EU, one of the Costa del Sol’s leaders said they should stop interfering and let Spain manage its own tourism affairs.

Earlier this week, tourism organization Mesa del Turismo issued a stark warning about the loss of millions of Britons if the European Union introduces a new tourist tax later this year.

De Mesa says this could be a big problem for Spain and describes the potential new charge as a “threat”.

The Office’s General Assembly expressed its concern about the introduction of the new tourist tax for non-EU visitors entering the Schengen area.

The European Union can apply this tariff from November under the name European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) and will result in €7 per tourist from outside the EU being paid.

READ MORE: Spain warns EU proposed ‘tourist tax’ on Britons ‘poses a threat’ to their economy and British holidaymakers will look elsewhere

In addition, there are local tourist taxes in the growing number of Spanish regions, which charge between two and five euros for each hotel night.

“De Mesa is particularly concerned about the impact of this EU tax on UK tourism, our most important emission market with 18 million arrivals in 2019,” the board said in a statement on Monday.

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

Now Francisco Salado, president of the tourism and planning bureau of the province of Costa del Sol and the province of Málaga, has spoken out about the EU tax, saying he is absolutely against it.

“Leave tourism alone!” he said at a press conference in Spain.

“Tourism works very well exclusively through the sector and the relevant brokers such as Turismo Costa del Sol and Turismo Andaluz.”

He told journalists that tourism is the economic engine of Málaga and Andalusia and criticized the future tax saying: “Stop inventing. Every time we launch a product, we do it because we improve tourism quality, and imposition ultimately does not improve quality.

“It increases the cost of the end product and makes us less competitive.”

And Mr Salado added: “The EU is always thinking about how to impose new taxes on local authorities.

“Laws are made and we, the municipalities and the citizens, pay. I consider it a lack of loyalty that the local authorities are not involved in these decisions.”

Stock Image: Panoramic aerial view of Malaga in a beautiful summer day, Spain

Another concern Mesa raised earlier this week 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,” said Mesa de Turismo.

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 for more than 90 days in any 180-day period”.