THE minister of tourism for the Balearics will be in
the UK next week to unveil plans to introduce the controversial eco tax on May
1 and market the islands under a new image.
Celesti Alomar will meet ABTA and the Federation of
Tour Operators, which have criticised the timing of the tax, for separate
discussions on Thursday.
A UK press campaign is planned to move away from the
traditional bucket-and-spade image of the Balearics, which is struggling to
boost bookings, down 27% up to the end of December in a market down 22%
overall.
ABTA has admitted the tax could pose a serious threat
to its planned convention in Majorca next year and described it as “simply
outrageous”.
Many operators, who are convinced the tax will cause
mass cancellations this summer, have flown to Spanish trade show Fitur in a
desperate bid to find out more.
Thomas Cook tour operations managing director Manny
Fontenla-Novoa said: “I am concerned about it. This will make Majorca even more
difficult to sell.”
While the tax has yet to be deemed constitutional by
the Spanish courts, latest reports suggest May 1 will be the start date.
It is thought hoteliers will
be forced to charge £1.20 per person per day at four and five-star hotels and
60p at mid-market properties.