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A new tax for tourists in Barcelona: 'We want respectful tourism'

In Spain, protests against mass tourism continue due to its impact on rising rents. Meanwhile, in Barcelona, an additional tax is planned for tourists arriving by cruise ship. Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni announced that the tax collected from tourists who stay in the city for less than 12 hours via cruise ships will be increased. Collboni emphasized that day-trippers do not benefit the city and that they aim for a type of tourism that respects the city. Speaking to El Pais, Collboni mentioned that cruise passengers currently pay a daily tax of 7 euros and stated, "We will propose a significant increase in the tax for cruise passengers who make short stops." Collboni added, "When cruise passengers stop for less than 12 hours, public spaces are heavily used in a way that does not benefit the city, creating a sense of occupation and saturation. We want tourism that respects the destination." The mayor called for local projects, such as installing air conditioning in schools, to be financed not by taxpayers' money but through taxes paid by tourists. Although he did not provide details on how much the tax would be increased, Collboni noted that the proposal must be approved by the Catalan regional government. In recent weeks, there have been large-scale protests against mass tourism in Spain's tourist cities, as well as in Mallorca and the Canary Islands, due to the rise in rents for short-term rentals causing a housing crisis. Another demonstration is planned for this evening in Palma de Mallorca. Last month, the Barcelona City Council decided to completely ban the rental of homes to tourists until 2028.

Spaniards doubled Turkey in tourism!

Spain is attracting attention with a significant increase in tourism. In May, the number of tourists visiting the country increased by 11.5% compared to the same period last year, reaching 9.3 million. This increase highlights Spain's strong performance in the tourism sector. Most Visitors from the United Kingdom In May, the United Kingdom was the country that sent the most tourists to Spain, with 1.913 million visitors. The UK was followed by France with 1.284 million visitors, Germany with 1.229 million visitors, the Netherlands with 505,000 visitors, Italy with 471,000 visitors, and Ireland with 290,000 visitors. 33 Million Visitors in Five Months From January to May 2024, the total number of visitors to Spain increased by 13.6% compared to the same period in 2023, reaching 33.232 million. During this period, the United Kingdom was the market leader for Spain with 6.352 million visitors. Other countries that sent the most visitors to Spain during this five-month period were France with 4.425 million visitors, Germany with 4.418 million visitors, Italy with 1.893 million visitors, the Netherlands with 1.627 million visitors, Ireland with 978,000 visitors, and Portugal with 897,000 visitors. Doubled Turkey Spain's success in tourism has surpassed its rival, Turkey. In May, Turkey hosted 5.1 million visitors, and the total number for the first five months was 17.8 million. Spain nearly doubled Turkey's number of visitors during the same periods.

A tourist reduces a neighbor, tourist rentals should be banned

Malaga has joined the list of cities in Spain protesting against mass tourism and high rents. In the city located in the Andalusia region in the south of the country, more than 5,000 demonstrators gathered under the slogan "Malaga to live, not to survive." Protesters carried signs reading "Salary 1300, rent 1100 euros, how can I live?" and "Ban tourist rentals." A 26-year-old protester told the French News Agency (AFP) that "the city has turned into an amusement park," making it difficult for locals to find apartments to live in. In another Andalusian city, Cadiz, hundreds of people gathered under the slogan "A tourist reduces a neighbor" and held up a banner reading "Enough with selling the city." The port of Cadiz is a frequent stop for many cruise ships. In Spain, protests against mass tourism are also being held in Mallorca, Ibiza, the Canary Islands, and the city of Barcelona. Spaniards claim that many homes are being rented to tourists, causing rents to rise and making city centers unlivable due to noise and pollution. SPAIN HOSTED 85 MILLION TOURISTS According to the Spanish statistical office INE, approximately 85 million foreign tourists visited Spain in 2023. The number of tourists increased by about 19% compared to the previous year. Thanks to the tourism boom, the growth of the Spanish economy increased by 2.5% last year, surpassing all international expectations. However, dissatisfaction with the negative effects of mass tourism among the public is steadily growing.

Growing backlash against mass tourism: "This is not tourism, it's an invasion"

In popular European tourist destinations like Spain, Italy, and Greece, there is growing backlash against mass tourism. In Spain's Mallorca island, a protest against mass tourism on Sunday ended with police intervention. Activists at Es Caló des Moro, one of Mallorca's dream coves, protested the overcrowding of beaches, chanting slogans like "tourists out" in an effort to reclaim the beaches for locals. Activists from the group Mallorca Platja Turu hung banners saying "Ocupem les nostres plages" (Let's occupy our beaches!) and "És ben hora d'aturar" (It's time to stop). Police created barriers between activists and tourists amid heightened tensions at the beach. NEED FOR CONTROL On May 27th, fifteen thousand people in Mallorca protested the increasing number of tourists with banners saying "tourists go home" and "Mallorca is not for sale." Locals expressed their displeasure with the influx of tourists by booing them during the demonstration. The organizing group, Banc del Temps, attributed rising rents and prices to the tourism boom and announced their intention to continue protests. Mallorcans are not only concerned about high prices but also about the noisy entertainment style of tourists. Groups advocating for tourism control are urging authorities to restrict property sales to foreigners. On July 21st, a mass protest is planned in the Balearic Islands, emphasizing that the island and its beaches cannot sustain such high levels of tourism. Activists underscored their ongoing fight against mass tourism, stating "Menys turisme, més vida" (Less tourism, more life). The Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain located in the middle of the Mediterranean, include islands like Menorca, Mallorca, Cabrera, Ibiza, and Formentera. In Venice, Italy, famous for its canals, there are also reactions against the influx of tourists. The historic city, unable to handle the increasing crowds, has begun to collect a landing tax from daily visitors. ONLY GOVERNMENTS BENEFITTING In Barcelona, frequent protests with slogans like "Tourists go home" and "This is not tourism, it's an invasion" highlight concerns that uncontrolled tourism is driving up prices in the city, benefiting governments but adversely affecting local residents with increased costs and exorbitant prices. There is criticism that mass tourism worsens rather than improves the situation for local residents. Protesters also point out that mass tourism contributes to environmental and ecological damage.

Significant increase in tourism revenue in Spain

In February 2024, Spain's tourism revenue increased by 25.8 percent compared to the same month of the previous year, reaching 6.747 billion euros. According to a report on Tourism Güncel, with this figure, Spain surpassed February 2019, when it earned 4.667 billion euros in tourism revenue, by 44.5 percent. The total tourism revenue for Spain in January-February 2024 was recorded as 13.296 billion euros. With this amount, Spain exceeded February 2019, when it earned 9.357 billion euros in tourism revenue, by 42.13 percent. In February, the average spending per tourist in Spain increased by 8.5 percent to 1,347 euros, while the average nightly spending per tourist increased by 5.8 percent to 173 euros.

Spain Earned €108 Billion in Revenue from Tourism

In December 2023, the number of foreign visitors to Spain increased by 26.2% compared to the same month of the previous year, reaching 5.2 million, and by 21% compared to December 2019. The United Kingdom was the country that sent the most visitors to Spain in December, with 907 thousand visitors, followed by France with 819 thousand, Germany with 561 thousand, Italy with 354 thousand, the Scandinavian countries with 343 thousand, and Portugal with 234 thousand. During the same month, Spain's tourism revenue reached €7.093 billion, showing a 35.4% increase compared to December 2022 and a 41.6% increase compared to December 2019. Throughout the 12-month period from January to December 2023, Spain received a total of 85.056 million visitors, marking an 18.7% increase compared to the previous year and a 1.66% increase compared to 2019. The United Kingdom remained the top source of visitors to Spain during this period, with 17.328 million visitors, followed by France with 11.812 million, Germany with 10.8 million, Italy with 4.862 million, the Netherlands with 4.094 million, and Portugal with 2.84 million. These six countries accounted for approximately 51.7 million visitors to Spain, representing about 61% of the total visitors. Spain also achieved a historic record in tourism revenue in 2023, with visitor spending reaching €108.662 billion, showing a 24.7% increase compared to 2022 and an 18.2% increase compared to 2019. Spain had earned €87.061 billion in tourism revenue in 2022 and approximately €92 billion in 2019.

Spain has released 11-month tourism data

Spain has announced the results for November and the total tourism income for the first 11 months of 2023. The tourism income achieved in November showed a remarkable increase compared to the previous year. During this period, Spain recorded a growth of 23.62% compared to the previous year, reaching a total tourism income of 6.653 billion euros. Compared to the same period in 2019, this growth rate was 31.27%. When evaluating Spain's tourism revenues, the income achieved during the 11-month period from January to November demonstrated a remarkable performance. The total income increased by 24.02% to 101.569 billion euros. During this period, Spain showed a growth of 16.69% compared to the same period in 2019. The increase in daily spending by tourists visiting Spain in November was also noteworthy. The daily spending per tourist increased by 4.13% compared to the previous year, reaching 173 euros. The average spending per tourist increased by 4.22% to 1,294 euros, while the average length of stay was recorded at 7.46 nights with a 0.09% increase. This positive performance in Spain's tourism revenues reflects the country's attractiveness as a tourist destination and the quality of experiences it offers to visitors. The increases recorded in November and the total for the 11 months indicate a strong performance in Spain's tourism sector.

Spain has suspended visa applications

Long queues persist for visa applications to European countries. While many countries schedule appointments for visa applications months ahead, Spain has largely suspended applications. A decision made by Spain approximately 10 days ago resulted in the rejection of applications from those who had previously scheduled appointments. The Turkish Travel Agencies Association, seeking a solution, received responses from consulates indicating that processing times have extended and visa rejections have increased due to the high volume of applications. It was announced two weeks ago that the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs had issued a diplomatic note to relevant countries regarding the rejection of Turkey's visa applications.

New vote for membership of Bulgaria and Romania is on the agenda

European Union Term President Spain plans to bring to a new vote the issue of including Bulgaria and Romania in the Schengen area, which has been deadlocked for a long time. The entry of two members into the Schengen area, where internal border controls have been abolished and passport-free travel is allowed, is subject to the unanimous approval of the EU Home Affairs Council. Spain, as the term president, wants to bring the issue back to the agenda at the council meeting on December 5-6. Spanish Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated that Romania and Bulgaria's participation in Schengen is the "priority" of his country's term presidency and said: "We hope that this will become a reality at the last council of the Spanish term presidency in December." "Let's include it without delay" The European Commission, which evaluates applications for inclusion in the Schengen area, states that the two countries have met the necessary conditions such as security information sharing, police cooperation and border control since 2011. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made a new call for the two countries' Schengen membership in her annual State of the European Union speech in September. Von der Leyen said in her speech: "They have proven this: Bulgaria and Romania are part of our Schengen area. So let's include them without further delay." However, the application of both countries is blocked by Austria's veto. Austrian Minister of Internal Affairs Gerhard Karner said in August: "Our position is that the Schengen system does not work as a whole, so we are not open to its expansion." Why does Austria veto? Vienna says the persistently high number of irregular border crossings at the EU's external borders, estimated at around 232,350 in the first eight months of 2023, is a strong enough argument to delay further expansion of Schengen. Countries such as Austria, Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic began to impose temporary border controls to stop the flow of refugees. Bulgaria and Romania oppose Austria's stance, arguing that their lands are not part of the Western Balkan or Central Mediterranean route, where most migrant movements take place. In addition, the public opinion in Bulgaria and Romania has the impression that there is discrimination within the EU. Moreover, the fact that Croatia, which became a member of the EU six years after Bulgaria and Romania, was admitted to the Schengen area in last year's vote increases the sensitivity of the issue. Can Austria's veto be overcome? Romania, which is waiting to be accepted into the Schengen area, pointed out that it is "running out of patience". Bucharest has threatened to take Vienna to the European Court of Justice if it vetoes again. Spanish deputy minister Grande-Marlaska; "We are working with Austria and all 27 members and I think we will be successful in the end." Asked whether Austria was still resisting, Grande-Marlaska said: "Yes, but we are trying to move forward." There are 23 EU members in the Schengen area, which has a total of 27 members. Besides Bulgaria and Romania, Ireland and Cyprus are also full members outside Schengen. Ireland is not a member of the region due to its border agreement with England, and Cyprus is not a member of the region due to a border dispute.

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