Podemos is demanding a meeting with the Majorca Hoteliers Federation, which it has accused of acting as a "lobby" against the interests of the Balearic Islands through its explicit opposition to the tourist tax, as expressed at London's World Travel Market last week.
The secretary-general of Podemos, Alberto Jarabo, has called on the "whole" of the Balearic tourism sector to "disavow" the federation and its president, Inmaculada de Benito, because of what she had to say about the tax that has been approved for introduction next year.
"We know that for years we have been up against a lobby that is working against the islands as a tourist destination, one which has a lack of respect for all Balearic citizens," says Jarabo, who has stressed the commitment of his party to defend the Balearic Islands and their "scenic environment".
Jarabo has reproached Benito for having gone to London in order to "criticise" the majority will of the people of the islands and of the government and to also "draw into question the good name of the Balearics as a tourism destination". It is "totally irresponsible", adds Jarabo. He noted that the most recent Labour Force Survey established that there was a new "record" for part-time employment in the Balearic tourism industry, i.e. 75,000 workers, while a study by the University of the Balearic Islands estimated that more than half a million illegal hours had been worked during the main tourism season this year.