Tarragona approves property tax increase for tourist apartments

The Tarragona City Council has approved an increase in the Property Tax (IBI) for tourist accommodations to encourage owners to return properties to the long-term residential rental market. The measure includes a surcharge of up to 150% for owners who hold four or more tourist apartments in the city.

The local government, supported by ERC and En Comú Podem, stated that the goal is not revenue collection but rather disincentivizing tourist use to increase the supply of affordable housing for residents. Opposing parties, including PP, Junts, and VOX, criticized the move as being ineffective, purely electoral, or a form of taxation that punishes citizens.

In a related development, a study by Eurecat suggests designating the Part Alta district as a risk zone for the residential market. The study proposes potentially withdrawing licenses to ensure the number of tourist accommodations does not exceed ten per hundred inhabitants, a threshold used to maintain residential stability.