Should tourists pay an 'eco-tax' - have your say in our poll

21 December 2023 , 14:22

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Would you be willing to pay extra for paradise? (Image: Getty)

Protesters on a Spanish island are demanding tourists stump up an 'eco-tax' to offset the 'irreparable' damage caused to the local environment. But would you be willing to pay extra for paradise?

Sun-drenched Tenerife is a huge favourite with Brits, with close to 2.3 million of us piling onto its shores each year - but locals are growing increasingly fed up of over-crowding, sewage spills, massive traffic jams and the environmental damage which goes hand-in-hand when accommodating so many people.

Amid slogans of 'tourists go home' adorning the streets, there is also a growing clamour for visitors to pay an 'eco-tax' - a type of taxation specifically designed to promote environmentally friendly behaviour and address environmental issues.

If you can't see the poll, click here

While most European countries have some form of the levy, holidaymakers currently don't have to pay any tourist tax - or 'eco-tax' - if staying at a hotel or registered private accomodation in the Canary Islands, which includes Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, La Gomera, La Palma, El Hierro or La Graciosa.

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Last year, more than 5.8 million tourists visited Tenerife, with almost three million arriving from outside Spain, according to Statista. This equates to an average of six tourists per year for each of the 950,000 full-time residents on the island.

A spokesperson representing the protesters expressed concern at the degradation of the island's 'natural spaces' due to what they described as 'mass tourism'. They complained about the annoying presence of construction sites negatively impacting the environment and escalating property costs, partly driven by the demand for holiday rentals.

Tenerife is not the only Spanish destination grappling with large tourist influxes. The Balearic Islands, including Majorca and Ibiza, have also taken measures to address disruptive tourist behaviour, introducing new regulations such as six-drink limits in all-inclusive resorts.

What do you think? Should tourists pay an 'eco-tax'? Take our poll above and expand on your decision in the comments below.

Paul Speed