As far as the Balearic Government is concerned, any increase in the tourist tax has been postponed indefinitely, although it continues to insist that it will abide by conclusions of its sustainability pact.
The meeting at which the tax was discussed last week was inconclusive. Among those representatives who remain, there having been withdrawals of various political parties and social organisations, the hoteliers said no to an increase, while the unions said yes. The UGT stuck by its demand for an increase to 15 euros for the top rate.
The pact kicked the tourist tax can down the road, the employment minister, Catalina Cabrer, saying there was a need for "expert" consideration. The pact, so it was explained in the early days of its formation, apparently benefited from the presence of experts. The working parties that were set up had experts, not that their names were ever divulged.
Were there to be a pact decision in favour of a tax increase, the government, i.e. the Partido Popular, knows full well that it would not get the support of Vox. It would need the backing of the left opposition, PSOE having proposed an increase. Whether the PP would want such an alliance for a parliamentary vote is very questionable.
The PP have backtracked on their wish for a high-season increase, arguing, among other things, that it "is no longer perceived as an urgent measure". The reasons, the government says, are a moderation in terms of tourist arrivals and human pressure in the high summer and a boosting of tourism in lower months of the year. Its containment policies are working. There is less tourist overcrowding.
Vice President Antoni Costa reiterated this on Friday. The tourism minister, Jaume Bauzà, had said so the day before the meeting of the sustainability pact: "2025 was the year of smart redistribution. We moderated the pressure during the summer, with spending growth of 3.9%, while decisively boosting profitability in the mid and low seasons, where tourist spending increased by 10.2%."
The government repeatedly emphasises the importance of maximising the profitability of tourist visits and of value over volume. As to arrivals, these continued to increase last year - 323,152 more tourists, growth of 1.73%.
While it is the case that there was growth in the low season at the beginning of 2025, the opposite occurred at the end. There were decreases in both November and December compared with 2024. Overall, eight months saw percentage increases, including the peak months from June to September. This left four months with fewer tourists than the previous year: May, October, November and December.
It is argued that a factor in easing the pressure has been the reduction in the average length of stay, which has been trending downwards for some years, largely driven by rising prices. The number of overnight stays in 2025 fell by 0.94%, while the average stay decreased by 2.62% to just over six days.
It may be believed, the government may believe that shorter stays are a factor, but general opinion doesn't support this argument. The shorter the stays, the more tourists there are in overall terms. Shorter stays impact factors such as traffic and pressures on certain areas. 'Saturation' in must-visit parts of the Balearics thus intensifies. In terms of tourism sustainability, longer stays are said to have greater benefits.