Mogán’s Tourist Tax Success Story
The town council of Mogán in Gran Canaria has proposed that the Canary Islands Government implement a tourist tax across the entire archipelago. This suggestion comes on the heels of their own successful municipal tax, which was introduced a year ago and has not led to a decrease in visitor numbers.
Impressive Revenue for Local Coffers
Onalia Bueno, the Mayor of Mogán, highlighted that the local tourist tax—a modest charge of €0.15 per person, per day for anyone staying in the southern Gran Canaria municipality—has generated €662,425 for the town’s treasury. This revenue was collected in just six months and twelve days while the tax was in effect. Mayor Bueno noted that the tax was legally challenged by business owners, preventing its application for a large part of the year. If the benefits were extrapolated over a full year, the figure would be close to €1.4 million, based on an 80 percent occupancy rate in tourist accommodations. This amount would be further increased by the tax not yet collected from some accommodations that, for various reasons, have not yet paid.
Funding for a Better Visitor Experience
During a press conference, Mayor Bueno confirmed that Mogán’s tourist tax is ring-fenced, meaning the funds are specifically destined for the improvement of public services and infrastructure in tourist areas. “Tourists are happy to pay it because they want to contribute to the environment,” she stated, assuring that its implementation has not reduced the number of visitors.
A Call for an Archipelago-Wide Levy
Consequently, the mayor has formally asked the Canary Islands Government to apply a tax to the tourists visiting the archipelago, a practice already adopted by other Spanish autonomous communities. She emphasized that the Canary Islands are a “world-class destination, with 18 million tourists a year.” The revenue from such a tax could be directed towards the pressing needs of the islands, “especially the environment, the comprehensive water cycle, and everything that we Canary Islanders demand but for which there is no money because the State does not fulfill the Canary Islands Agenda. We could have this money and fix these issues.”
Future Adjustments and Cautious Optimism
The Mogán Town Council is considering the possibility of increasing the amount of its own tourist tax but is waiting for a court ruling on the legal challenge against it before making any moves. Mayor Bueno explained that any increase must be calculated through a complex mathematical operation to ensure it remains fair and proportional for the tourist. “The tax has to be fair for the tourist,” she said, so that it only covers the deficit generated for the Town Council. “Nothing more than that, nothing else can be attributed to it.” She clarified that this is different from a regional tax, whose amount can be chosen by the autonomous community. “We are studying it, but we are going to be cautious while waiting for the sentence,” the mayor concluded.
