The future tourist taxes that will be charged in Barcelona, made official by the City Council and already published by the media, foresee an increase in revenue from tourists, the maximum range will be close to seven euros per night, which we will see if it is enough. Without a doubt, the step forward to increase the final figure of the tax that visitors must pay is an important element, both those who enjoy five-star hotels and those who are crowded into tourist apartments or cruise passengers who do not even spend the night. Although the measure excites a part of the tourism business community, it is necessary and I would dare to say that the final amount that will be collected from tourism is short.
The deputy mayor of the Barcelona City Council, Jordi Valls, has already warned of a truth in capital letters: “No tourist will stop coming because of the tax.” Indeed that is so. And if someone stops coming, they will be the type of tourist who causes more expense than benefit to the city (except for whoever rents their accommodation), and therefore it is not worth fighting for them. If we want to move towards higher quality tourism, one of the long-standing aspirations of the sector and the city, having a notable rate is a good measure. But I insist. Nothing would happen if this rate were higher in all sections. There is no need to have complexes about being the European city with the highest rate (at the moment it is only in the leading group). What matters is that Barcelona raises more money and that this figure is destined to make life easier and cheaper for the people of Barcelona who pay their high taxes in this holy city.
In the overall figure for the tourism tax, one section is regional (and should also be allocated to services for Barcelona) and the rest is municipal responsibility, and this part would have to go, seeing how the city is, to cleaning and security. Not one euro of these fees should be used to finance other types of municipal plans. This economic amount would be advisable to alleviate the enormous expense generated by cleaning and security, precisely two of the elements that tourists demand most when they are in Barcelona and that are most necessary when the population in the city increases as a result of the arrival. of more visitors. Therefore the measure is necessary, it will not alter the large budgets of those who visit quality establishments, and those who resort to cheaper accommodations have to understand that visiting this city is more expensive than doing so in other places with fewer tourist attractions. The challenge for the City Council – in addition to trying to raise that rate again – is to ensure that this extra money is used for those important things, those that allow Barcelona residents to walk through cleaner and safer streets.
