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Daily Mirror
11-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Spain's £15 tourist tax in chaos as popular region delays strict rule
In a huge victory for Brits, Spain's region of Catalonia - which includes hotspots such as Barcelona and Costa Brava - has postponed doubling its tourist tax ahead of the peak summer season Controversial plans to double the tourist tax in Spain's most visited region have hit a major snag. Earlier this year, it was revealed Catalonia - which includes hotspots such as Barcelona, Costa Brava, Sitges, and Costa Daurada - was doubling visitor levies to clamp down on over-tourism. Scheduled to come into effect in May, the tourist tax will be based on the type of accommodation holidaymakers opt for. Campsite visitors in Barcelona will be subjected to €2 (£1.70) fees per day, while those staying at five-star hotels in the regional capital will be stung with €7 (£5.95) daily taxes. Combine this with Bareclona's municipal surcharge (currently set at €4 but could double) and tourists may soon be forking out €15 per night. This means seven nights in a fancy hotel will cost travellers an additional €105 (£89.26). As previously reported, passengers on board cruise ships docked at Barcelona's port for more than 24 hours will have to pay a tax of €6, while those on cruises that stay for more than 24 hours can expect taxes of €4 per night. Despite objections from leaders in the tourism industry, the move could result in €200 million generated in the region. The government has vowed to allocate at least a quarter of revenue generated by the levy upcharge to alleviate the country's housing crisis - which locals often blame on holidaymakers pushing demand for short-term rentals and soaring costs. However, in a huge victory for sun-worshipping Brits - this bold policy has been delayed until October 2025 at the earliest, after being embroiled in 'legal and procedural challenges'. Postponed tourist taxes won't go down well with fed-up locals, who have already vowed to unleash misery amongst Brits this summer with more planned protests. Last year, Lydia Morales, a teacher living in the Canary Islands, argued her salary barely covered her rent - and that not everybody benefits from an influx of tourists. "The priority of the politicians is still creating more construction of towers for tourism complexes," she said. "The priorities of the citizens of the country are left behind, we don't have a hospital in the south of the island, and the infrastructure is collapsing because there is so much traffic." The blow will only add to Spain's escalating anti-tourist sentiment, which has slowly spun into violent action. Back in March, a shocking sign threatening to 'Kill A Tourist' was spotted in Tenerife, while reports also emerged that anonymous activists had torched rental cars on the island to send a clear message to holidaymakers. Menys Turisme Més Vida (Less Tourism, More Life) - who has been at the forefront of Spain's anti-tourist wave for several years - has also vowed to 'intensify' efforts over the peak months. This will likely see residents take to tourist-riddled areas, armed with banners demanding they 'go home'.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Barcelona's Bonmatí braced for ‘good rivalry' of Chelsea showdown in WCL
Bareclona's Aitana Bonmatí is relishing the big occasion: 'It's these games that make us great.' Photograph: Javier Borrego/AFP7/Shutterstock Aitana Bonmatí says Barcelona's have a 'good rivalry, no bad things' with Chelsea as the Spanish holders prepare to meet the English club in their Women's Champions League semi-final for the third consecutive season. Advertisement The 2023 and 2024 Ballon d'Or winner, whose team are chasing what could be a fourth European title in five seasons, had high praise for Chelsea, despite the Women's Super League club having never knocked Barcelona out of the competition. Related: Chelsea get deja vu as imposing Barcelona await in semi-final trilogy 'It's a big rivalry between us, because over the last four or five years we [have been] playing a lot of games, but it's a good rivalry, no bad things,' said Bonmatí, before Sunday's first leg at Estadi Johan Cruyff. 'In these games [against Chelsea] I always say that we can enjoy the football because we have in front of us a good opponent that makes us be better and better and better. This is the moment of the season we all enjoy – big games. It's these games that make us great and that show us the level where we want to get to.' The technically gifted midfielder, who scored at Stamford Bridge a year ago when Barcelona overturned a first-leg deficit to reach their fourth final in a row, pointed to Chelsea's recruitment directly from Barcelona of the England duo Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh as having improved the English team. 'They have Keira and Lucy, so they're a better team these days. We miss them, because they helped us a lot.' Advertisement Lauren James is set to miss the game for Chelsea because of a hamstring injury sustained during the April international break while on helping the Lionesses beat Belgium 5-0 at Ashton Gate. For Barcelona, Caroline Graham Hansen is a doubt after missing Saturday's training session with illness. Graham Hansen scored in each leg of the 2023 semi-final meeting between the sides as well as in the 2021 final when Barcelona emphatically saw off Chelsea with a 4-0 win in Gothenburg. Barcelona's coach, Pere Romeu, said: 'She had a rough night. We decided it was best for her to stay home and rest, but the match is in the evening, and we hope she'll be fine.' Romeu, who is in his first season in charge after replacing Jonatan Giráldez last June, also praised Sonia Bompastor's side, adding: 'That we've never been knocked out by Chelsea is in the past and doesn't affect tomorrow's game. It will be a long tie. It will be a closely contested tie. We have analysed the opponent a lot and have trained in a specific way to exploit our strengths and attack their weaknesses.' Barcelona have won four games in a row in all competitions since their first defeat in a women's Clásico against Real Madrid in March, and Romeu's side were in ominously strong form when they dismantled Wolfsburg in the quarter-finals with a relentless 10-2 aggregate win. They hold a seven-point lead over Real at the top of the Spanish top flight, having lost only two league fixtures this season while scoring 107 goals in their 26 league matches so far. Advertisement Chelsea, however, remain unbeaten in domestic action this season and have still only lost one fixture in the Bompastor's first campaign as manager, with that sole defeat coming in the first leg of their ultimately victorious quarter-final against Manchester City. The Londoners are still in contention for a quadruple of major honours this term, having already wrapped up the League Cup and being through to May's Women's FA Cup final at Wembley against Manchester United, and they are three points clear at the top of the WSL, with a game in hand on second-placed Arsenal. A potential Champions League final would take place on 24 May, six days after the Blues take on United at Wembley.
