The Canary Islands’ Minister of Budget and Finance, Matilde Asián, has stated that the regional government would be open to introducing a tourist tax on overnight stays—commonly known as the eco-tax—provided a mechanism can be established to exempt residents of the Canary Islands. However, she also expressed scepticism that such a formula is currently feasible.
Speaking during a parliamentary session, Asián presented this challenge in response to Socialist MP Manuel Hernández Cerezo, who has long advocated for the implementation of a tourist tax as a tool to redistribute the economic benefits generated by tourism.
“As things stand, it is simply not possible to introduce such a tax without also applying it to Canarian residents,” Asián argued, describing the idea of locals paying the same as visitors as “deeply unfair”.
Despite the economic appeal of such a measure, President Fernando Clavijo has reiterated his firm opposition to the tourist tax. He maintains that tourism should be taxed, if at all, through the IGIC (Canary Islands General Indirect Tax), which directly supports regional, island, and local governments.
Seeking Alternatives for Fairer Tourism Revenue Distribution
While acknowledging that Spain’s GDP is outperforming other European economies, and that the Canary Islands’ growth surpasses the national average, Asián noted that this prosperity is not reflected in the everyday lives of the general public.
She stressed the need to ensure that the wealth created by the booming tourism industry is more equitably shared. In her view, the most effective approach is raising wages in the sector. She expressed confidence that a pay agreement could soon be reached in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, as it already has in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
In addition, Asián proposed that charging entry fees for access to protected natural spaces offers a viable and sustainable alternative for raising revenue from tourism. She encouraged municipalities and local councils across the archipelago to consider this measure, which has already been adopted in certain areas.
Opposition Criticises Government Inaction
For his part, PSOE deputy Hernández Cerezo strongly criticised the regional government’s refusal to adopt any of his party’s proposals for social redistribution of tourism income, including the tourist tax. He also condemned the government’s lack of response to recent public demonstrations, notably the 18 May protests demanding better living conditions, and the strike by tourism workers in Tenerife.
“The response to all this has been either complete inaction or, at best, policies that benefit the usual few,” Hernández Cerezo argued. He also rejected Asián’s suggestion that access fees to natural spaces would solve the issue, noting that such funds are earmarked for environmental maintenance, not social welfare or economic equity.
