I paid the tourist tax last weekend and along with thousands of others I did not grumble, call the ministry for tourism or even mutter a bad word. I paid it and that is it. For months, before the introduction of the controversial levy, many people (myself included) forecast a summer of discontent. But nothing. I would say that the introduction of the tax has been completely trouble-free. I suspect that there may have been some moans and groans but nothing on a major scale.
So, how did we get it all wrong? Probably because tourist taxes are now commonplace in resorts across Spain and the world. It is just another tax. The Balearic ministry for tourism should be congratulated for holding its nerve and pushing ahead with the tax despite widespread opposition from all quarters. By the end of this season the levy will have raised in excess of 50 million euros for the local government. A nice sum, which I hope will be ploughed back into improving tourist resorts across the island.
The Balearic government has to be slightly careful. They "sold" the tourist tax to tourists as a surcharge which would improve resorts. And they must keep their word. Local hoteliers, who had initially opposed the tax, have fallen silent and everyone has just agreed to agree that the tourist tax is going ahead. This is obviously a big victory for tourism minister Biel Barcelo. The Balearic government now has extra funds and it appears that no-one is complaing.