Canary Islands’ holiday resort loved by Brits to launch tourist tax in 2025
A picturesque resort in the Canary Islands will launch a new tourism tax that will be the ‘first of its kind’ in 2025. Mogán, a region in Gran Canarian home to a fishing village which was recently named the best holiday resort in the Canary Islands, will introduce its pioneering tourism tax in the new year.
Anyone staying in accommodation within Mogán, including hotels, apartments and, and holiday rental properties will be required to pay 15 cents per day, according to news site Canarian Weekly. The tax will also apply to residents of the Canary Islands staying in such establishments.
The tax was announced by Mogán's mayor, Onalia Bueno, during a press conference last week and aims to support sustainable tourism development. It comes after months of ongoing debate across the Canary Islands regarding the impact of mass-tourism on local infrastructure and the environment.
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What makes the tax in Mogán different to other similar taxes in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands is that this one will be strictly “finalist”, which means all funds collected will be exclusively used for activities, services, or infrastructure improvements within the municipality’s tourist areas.
The daily rate of tax may vary each year, according to the mayor, depending on the investments planned by the local council to enhance the visitor experience and reflect the fact it’s a “top-tier destination”. The funds raised will be used “for the provision of services and activities related to tourism and sustainability obligations”.
Puerto de Mogán, located on the south west coast of Gran Canaria, was named the best holiday resort in the Canary Islands in a survey by consumer group Which?, beating popular resorts including Los Cristianos in Tenerife and Playa del Ingles in Gran Canaria. The fishing village bagged the top spot thanks to its picturesque marina, white-washed house and pretty old town, with those surveyed calling it a “peaceful, beautiful place”.