The Balearic government has put on hold its plan to raise the tourist tax, arguing that the pressure of tourist overcrowding has eased. The decision has reopened the debate over how to measure saturation.
The tax on hold
The government had proposed increasing the sustainable tourism tax in high season, but has now said the measure is no longer urgent and that it will seek expert advice before deciding. A meeting with the social partners ended without agreement:
- hoteliers rejected any increase;
- trade unions, especially UGT, called for the top rate to be raised significantly.
The political arithmetic
The governing Partido Popular would face difficulties passing an increase in parliament. Its usual partner, Vox, opposes raising the tax, while the left-wing opposition, including the PSOE, supports it — but relying on rival parties would be politically awkward for the government.
The government’s argument
Tourism minister Jaume Bauzà described 2025 as the year of the “redistribution” of tourism. According to the government:
- spending by tourists grew moderately in the summer (+3.9%) and much more in the low season (+10.2%);
- total visitors rose by 1.73% (around 323,000 more), but four months — May, October, November and December — saw fewer visitors than in 2024;
- average stays fell by 2.6% to just over six days, and overnight stays fell by almost 1%.
The critics
Critics question whether shorter stays mean less overcrowding. If each tourist stays fewer nights but the total number of visitors keeps rising, they argue, there is more turnover: more flights, more transfers and more people passing through the same beaches, roads and landmarks. Longer stays, by contrast, tend to spread spending across more local businesses and put less pressure on infrastructure.
Environmental groups and residents’ associations also point out that the number of tourists remains at record levels, and that the effects of tourism — on housing, traffic, water and natural areas — are felt throughout the year.
The debate continues
With the tax increase on hold and the political arithmetic unfavourable, visitors will not pay more for now. But the underlying question — how many tourists the islands can sustainably receive — remains at the centre of Balearic politics.
