The secretary of the World Tourism Organisation (WTO), Taleb Rifai, yesterday praised the Balearic Government’s tourism policy but highlighted one particular area in which much care needed to be shown – that of taxes on tourists (he may have been referring to a possible direct tourist tax, though he did not expressly say so).
During a visit to Palma, Rifai warned against falling into the trap of overtaxing the tourism sector: as it is so important for the economy and government revenue, intelligence needs to be applied and unnecessary taxes not imposed.
Rifai met with the Balearic president, Jose Ramon Bauza, and a large number of representatives from the tourism sector. In praising the tourism policies of both the Spanish and the Balearics governments, he added that tourism success in Spain has much to do with the success in the Balearics. “The Balearics is a very important destination” in Spain and at an international level.
Rifai emphasised the capacity that the Balearic Islands have for moving away from the straightforward sun-and-beach offer and for other activities, such as cultural and sports tourism.
He noted that a 23% increase in the number of visitors in the first three months of the year represented an “enormous” increase going towards tackling seasonality.
World Tourism Organisation leader praises Balearic policy
Taleb Rifai (third from left) in Palma yesterday. | Jason Moore