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Moment teen knifeman shot dead by police at airport as tourists threatened
Moment teen knifeman shot dead by police at airport as tourists threatened

Daily Mirror

time19-05-2025

  • Daily Mirror

Moment teen knifeman shot dead by police at airport as tourists threatened

Warning distressing content. Footage shows an 18-year-old man from Gambia, who onlookers described as appearing mentally unstable, going on a rampage at Gran Canaria airport in Spain before he was shot by police An 18-year-old man was filmed in a horror airport rampage where he threatened tourists with a knife before being shot dead by police. Holidaymakers watched on in horror as the man from Gambia was shot five times by Spanish police at Gran Canaria airport last Saturday afternoon. Onlookers described the man as appearing out of his mind as he tried to rob a taxi driver and then lunged at a police officer before they fired at him. ‌ ‌ Footage shows tourists at the airport running for cover as shots rang out. Other clips show the knifeman running at one of the five National Police officers trying to intercept him who fell to the ground and then afterwards people looked on in horror at what had happened after the man had been shot. One woman could be heard shouting: "My God you've killed him" while officers tried to keep a crowd back. He was shot as he tried to attack officers who appeared to be warning him to stop. Court officials have confirmed one of the five bullets the teenager received hit him in the neck. He was pronounced dead at the scene. CCTV footage of the incident, which unfolded just before 5pm on Saturday, is being analysed by an investigating judge based in the Gran Canaria town of Telde. Overnight it emerged the unnamed aggressor had tried to board a flight to Gambia before going on the rampage, but was turned back after airport workers saw his ticket was for a plane due to take off on May 22. He is said to have tried to force his way through airport control after being intercepted, setting off a scanner because of the knife he was carrying in his rucksack. Ibon Dominguez, a spokesman for police union Jupol, has described the response of the officers who tackled the knifeman as 'proportional and congruent.' He said: 'The man with the knife could easily have ended the lives of one of those policemen.' The Canary Islands High Court of Justice said in its first full statement on the incident: 'A duty court in Telde has been investigating the circumstances in which a person who was shot by the police died on Saturday in the airport area. 'At the moment the court is compiling the images of the multiple camera recordings from outside and inside the airport in order to establish a reconstruction of the events. 'The man was shot five times, including once in the neck. The videos show that the deceased was apparently out of his mind and carrying a large knife and after attacking a taxi driver he felled a police officer and tried to knock down another, and was wandering around armed in an area with a large number of people, creating a real danger for their physical integrity. He was 18 years old.'

Where Brits will pay the most tourist tax in Europe this summer
Where Brits will pay the most tourist tax in Europe this summer

Yahoo

time13-05-2025

  • Yahoo

Where Brits will pay the most tourist tax in Europe this summer

Tourist taxes come in many forms and can be a minefield for travellers to work out. They can be applied at a national or local level in each country, but are typically added to a hotel or guesthouse bill. The tax can be a fee per stay, per night, or per person. Sometimes, it's an upfront cost to enter entire countries, cities or areas – and these fees are constantly changing. 'Tourism tax used to be a by-product of a need from local governments to make money – it was a sign of desperation. Now there are hundreds, if not thousands, of tourist taxes,' says Tom Jenkins, CEO of the European Tourism Association. Confusingly, there's little consistency in how taxes are applied. 'The application is so random – sometimes it's a per night, per person, on-arrival charge. It's very difficult for people to understand where they're going to be stung,' says Jenkins. 'The irony is, it tends to deter the very people destinations want to attract – people who stay overnight and spend money in restaurants and attractions. Instead, tourist taxes typically incentivise people to take day trips.' Tourist taxes are usually put in place to help fund services that are negatively impacted by large numbers of holidaymakers, helping to finance maintenance work and preserve cultural and architectural heritage. Many destinations, such as Barcelona, after courting tourists for years, are now victims of their own success. Reports claim that Santorini's old cave-like buildings are now suffering under the pressure of heavy footfall on the island's narrow streets. Local businesses benefit from visitors, but local authorities haven't typically received direct revenue from tourism – tourist taxes go directly to municipalities, and these fees are assumed to support infrastructure improvements. Tourist tax is a balancing act. Places reliant on tourism worry that such taxes may negatively affect businesses in the tourism sector by dissuading people from visiting. The Canary Islands High Court of Justice (TSJC), for example, suspended its tourist tax in Mogán, Gran Canaria, in March, only 24 hours after it came into effect. It was later reinstated at the end of the month. Others see it as a tax on local businesses. 'It's a misnomer,' says Jenkins. 'It's a tax on businesses in tourism, because tourists pay what they can afford. 'There is a victim in this – and the victim is the business – because their costs go up.' *The below is a guide. Always check tourist taxes before you travel, as they are liable to change. An ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) is required before arrival. It costs AU$20 (£9.65) per person and must be applied for in advance. In Vienna, a tourist tax of approximately 3.2% is usually added to your accommodation bill. In Brussels, the tourist tax is around €4.24 (£3.60) per night and is added to your accommodation bill. Rates vary between cities. Until September 2027, Bhutan has reduced its Daily Sustainable Development Fee to USD $100 (£75) per adult per day. Tourist tax varies by destination and hotel standard, it's usually around £1.30 per night. Most Caribbean islands charge a tourist tax, with rates varying by location. In St Lucia, the fee is around $3 to $6 (£2.25-4.50) per night. In the Dominican Republic, it's higher but often included in package holidays or airline fees. Tax depends on season and accommodation type – roughly working out around €1 (85p) per adult per day, but can be up to €2.65 (£2.25) per night for Dubrovnik, depending on the season. In Prague, the tourist tax is typically CZK 50 per night (approximately £1.71), added to your accommodation bill. In France, the tourist tax varies based on accommodation type, ranging from less than €1 for campsites to more than €15 (£12.72) for luxury hotels and palaces. In Germany, tourist tax rates vary by city. For instance, in Berlin, the standard tourist tax is 7.5% of the accommodation price. In Greece, the tourist tax depends on the standard and size of your accommodation. Recently, the tax was replaced with a 'climate tax,' costing up to €8 (£6.80) per night, indicating a clearer allocation of funds towards environmental initiatives. Cruise ship taxes are also in effect, with up to €20 (£17) per person in certain destinations. In Budapest, travellers pay a fixed fee of Ft1000 (just over £1.70) per person per night for a maximum of six nights. Children under 18 are exempt from this fee. Taxes around Italy vary from place to place. Rome charges between €4 (£3.39) and €10 (£8.50) per night, depending on your accommodation, and it's payable for up to 10 nights. Venice famously hit the headlines in 2024 for its €5 (£4.21) day-trip fee, depending on the day of the visit (which doubles to €10 or £8.42 per person for last-minute day trippers). Those wishing to stay overnight have to pay between €1 (85p) and €5 (£4.21) per person per night, depending on the accommodation classification and the season. Children under the age of 10 and disabled people go tax-free, young people between 10 and 16 years of age go half price. JapanIn Japan, travellers are required to pay a tourist tax of 1,000 yen (about £5) on departure. MalaysiaIn Malaysia, the tourist tax is RM10 per night (approximately £1.75) per night, added to your accommodation bill. New Zealand The Antipodean country's International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy increased from NZ$35 (£15) to NZ$100 (around £44) in 2024. PortugalPortugal charges a tourist tax in many cities and regions, including Lisbon, €4 per night, up to a maximum of 7 nights (roughly £3.40), and Porto, €3 (£2.50) per night, up to a maximum of €21 (£17.80) or seven consecutive nights. The cost varies slightly between locations and between low and high seasons. The NetherlandsIn the Netherlands, tourist tax rates differ per municipality. In Amsterdam, for example, the rate is 12.5% of the accommodation price. SwitzerlandIn Switzerland, the tourist tax varies depending on the destination, ranging from about CHF 2 (approximately £1.80) to CHF 7 (approximately £6.30) per person per night. Basel's tax is CHF 4.20 per person a night for hotels, B&Bs and apartment rentals, children go free. SloveniaIn Slovenia, the tourist tax rate changes from destination to destination. It's generally around €3 (£2.50) per night, with higher rates in cities and lower rates in rural areas. SpainIn Spain, several cities have recently increased their tourist tax rates. In Barcelona, the fee was topped out at a maximum of €7.50 (£6.30) per night, but is reportedly set to increase to €15 (£13) per night while in the Balearic Islands, the fee ranges from €1 (85p) to €4 (£3.30). United StatesWhen travelling to the US from the UK, visitors need to apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization), which allows stays of up to 90 days. The cost of an ESTA is $21 (approximately £17), and it's valid for two years. Proposed future tourist taxes More countries are planning on rolling out different forms of tourist taxes in the future including Thailand, which will introduce a THB 300 (£6.80) for those arriving by plane. Plans are also in place to charge a 3% tax on overnight stays in Norway. In the UK, London, Wales and Liverpool are also proposing tourist taxes.

Canary Islands judge blocks tourist tax after just one day
Canary Islands judge blocks tourist tax after just one day

The Independent

time14-03-2025

  • The Independent

Canary Islands judge blocks tourist tax after just one day

A judge in the Canary Islands has blocked the archipelago's first tourist tax just one day after it was introduced. Authorities in Mogán, one of Gran Canaria 's most popular holiday destinations, agreed to impose the fee, which is set at €0.15 (£0.13) per person, per day, for those staying in hotels, holiday homes and other tourist accommodation. Mogán City Council said the profits would be exclusively used to finance activities, services or infrastructure in the popular tourist area, as well as promote tourism in the municipality. But according to Canarian Weekly, the Canary Islands High Court of Justice (TSJC) ruled against the tax on Wednesday 12 March – just one day after it was introduced – arguing that it was 'poorly written' and 'confusing'. Judge Francisco José Gómez de Lorenzo-Cáceres stated that the tax created 'an inappropriate and disproportionate burden' and should have been regulated by a formal law. The backlash also follows complaints from the Federation of Hospitality and Tourism who claimed the tax would result in excessive administrative complications. Authorities in Mogán, which is 93 kilometres outside the capital city of Las Palmas, approved the tax on 28 February. The tax will now remain suspended until the TSJC reviews the council's arguments, which Mogán plans to submit following official notification from the court. A spokesperson for Mogán City Council confirmed the authority's intention to appeal. 'In view of the precautionary suspension of the Fiscal Ordinance Regulating the Fee for Services and Activities Derived from Tourism Activities and the Sustainability Obligation, the Mogán City Council is awaiting the formal ruling of the Canary Islands High Court of Justice, which it learned of through the media. 'The Mogán City Council has always been aware that this circumstance could occur, and therefore, when the local government is duly notified, it will appear before a judge or court within three days to defend the aforementioned ordinance and to ensure that the precautionary suspension measures can be lifted.' The Independent has contacted Mogán City Council for further information. Mogán is the latest tourist destination to consider a tourist levy amidst growing concerns about the environmental and social impact of mass tourism in the region. It follows Venice, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Mallorca, Ibiza and Dubrovnik, who have all introduced a tourist tax i n a bid to combat the effects of overtourism.

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