The chances of there being an increase in the Balearic tourist tax in 2026 are increasingly more remote, the Partido Popular government downplaying the possibility of a rise because of the political reality it faces - attempting to keep Vox as onside as possible for the remaining period of the current administration (up to May 2027).
In 2024, President Marga Prohens presented the case for an increase in the tax. The proposal was meant to have gone to the sustainability pact committee for consideration before the end of 2025, but it did not.
The Balearic Parliament has yet to vote on a motion raised by PSOE that incorporates the terms of an increase that Prohens had outlined. But the PP are fully aware that supporting this motion would result in a definitive break with Vox, and this is not Prohens' intention. Relations between the PP and Vox may have become very strained, but Prohens is seeking to mend them in order to prevent the next year and a half being a parliamentary ordeal.
The PP need to negotiate with Vox on key outstanding legislative issues. Agreement with PSOE on the tourist tax would derail a hoped-for rapprochement with Vox; the PP are quite willing to sacrifice a tourist tax increase.
Bills on which the PP are in talks with Vox include a new agriculture law and a law for coastal management. There are also proposals for extending the exemption for Catalan requirements for hard-to-fill public sector jobs.
* The PP have been contemplating an increase in the tourist tax rates for June to August. The level of increase has not been specified but it is believed it would see the top rate of four euros per night per person rising by two euros.