The tourist tax is the tax paid by the tourist overnight in an accommodation and the revenue is intended to “improve tourist activities and infrastructures”, according to EITB. The Basque Government began this week to take the first steps towards the implementation of the measure in Álava, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa, analyzing and radiographing the tax. It is already implemented in 137 cities around the world and will shortly be in force in several communities of the Spanish State.

At the moment, there are two autonomous communities that charge the tourist tax: Catalonia (since 2012) and the Balearic Islands (since 2016). But in other communities they have also announced the approval of the tourist tax: It will enter into force in Valencia in 2024 and, as in the CAPV, its implementation is being studied in Seville, Málaga and Granada.

The City Hall of Donostia-San Sebastian has stated by press release that “it is in favour of the implementation of the tourist tax”. Municipality Tourism Councilor Ernesto Gasco has pointed out that the number of visitors to Donostia in recent years has increased considerably: “It is sensible, as in other tourist destinations, to create a fee that benefits the city itself.”