Tenerife introduces tourist tax: relief planned for locals!

Tenerife introduces tourist tax: relief planned for locals!

The holiday season is just around the corner and many Germans are looking forward to their well-deserved break in popular holiday countries such as Italy, Greece and Spain. Tenerife in particular is becoming increasingly popular with German holidaymakers, who are prioritizing the island alongside Mallorca. In 2024, Tenerife received a record 18 million tourists from abroad. But the increasing number of tourists also brings challenges.

Locals feel disadvantaged by the masses of tourists as they bear the burden in areas such as public cleaning, waste management, public facilities, water consumption and security. To address these challenges, the municipality of San Miguel de Abona plans to introduce a tourist tax for tourists. This measure aims to create financial justice and relieve the burden on the city administration.

Details about the planned tourist tax

The amount of the planned tourist tax fee is still unclear, but it will be charged per person per night in tourist accommodation. San Miguel is taking its cue from the municipality of Mogán on Gran Canaria, which will introduce a tourist tax of 15 cents per person per night from April 1, 2025. The income from this fee is intended to go towards promoting tourism, protecting the environment, preserving cultural heritage and improving local public transport.

In recent years the number of holiday apartments in the south of Tenerife has grown significantly. Between January and September 2023 alone, 193 new holiday apartments were added, which corresponds to an increase of 24.3 percent, according to the Canary Islands Institute of Statistics (ISTAC). Holiday apartments now make up almost 50 percent of the entire tourist offering in San Miguel.

Support from locals

The socialist parliamentary group spokesman for the city administration emphasizes that the burden of the influx of tourists is mainly borne by the residents. In 2024, residents contributed about 70 percent of the municipal budget of 37.8 million euros, while residents' income tax brought in over 21 million euros. With an average disposable income of 19,636 euros annually, San Miguel is below the national average of 24,542 euros and the regional average of 22,062 euros.

Efforts to introduce the tourist tax should also be supported by a citizen participation process before the regulation is possibly passed. Tourism Commissioner Laura Paiz highlights the need to coordinate with all stakeholders and develop a strategic plan. There is already interest from other municipalities in Tenerife to benefit from San Miguel's experience and to consider similar measures.

The discussion about the tourist tax shows how municipalities want to respond to the challenges of increasing tourism while protecting the interests of the locals. The coming months will be crucial in determining how these plans develop.

For further information on the topic, see the articles from derwesten.de and tenerife-news.com be read.