What is happening to the ecotax?
According to both organisations, the announcement made last week by the president of the Balearic Government, Francesc Antich, to suspend the application of the ecotax if there were a tourist crisis, would be a great mistake, that would have negative results of different kinds. The communiqué ends saying that "it would be absurd for the Constitutional Tribunal to pronounce the law correct, while the Government suspends its application."
More information about the ecotax: www.ecotaxa.org
EDITORIAL COMMENT: The ecotax, as the GOB stated in its day, is a tax that should be levied on all tourists, not only those who stay in legal tourist establishments. A new law could be passed that would involve all economic sectors who directly or indirectly benefit from tourism, including financial entities and real estate promoters. It is a pity that a tax that has a wide social support should end in nothing because of bad planning that has caused sterile confrontation between the Balearic executive on one hand and the hoteliers and the central Spanish Government on the other. What is more, there is the danger that the social support for the ecotax may decrease if it is seen that large amounts are destined to publicity campaigns that only intend to promote the image of the Govern, while the rational territorial planning has no solution nor the urban growth on the islands or the protection of the natural areas, be they private or public, that our society needs to guarantee the survival of the tourist economy.
Photo © Archive BalearWeb: the President of the Balearic Government, Francesc Antich, accompanied by the Councillor for Tourism, Celistí Alomar in the foreground
Date of publication: 25/10/2001
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