Andalusia rejects proposal for tourist tax in major cities

The regional government of Andalusia has declined to implement a tourist tax, despite requests from major cities like Seville and Malaga. While other Spanish regions such as Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Galicia, and the Basque Country have introduced or planned such levies to fund services like cleaning, security, and heritage preservation, Andalusia's tourism ministry has resisted legislating the tax.

Tourism Minister Manuel Gavira stated that any such tax must be purpose-driven and finalistic, noting that he has yet to hear mayors specify exactly how the funds would be used for waste collection or tourism-related issues. He suggested that the central government must first provide a legal framework through the Law of Public Treasuries to allow municipalities to collect new funds.

Local authorities in Seville and Malaga, which have seen record-breaking visitor numbers, face increasing pressure on municipal budgets due to rising tourism. Seville reported 3.7 million tourists last year, while Malaga saw 1.4 million. City officials have responded to the minister's demands by noting that specific investment objectives cannot be defined until the amount of the tax itself is established.