Since its introduction in July 2016, a sustainability tax, paid by guests at their accommodation, has helped fund numerous projects which benefit tourists as well as local residents.
Speaking at the Focus on Sustainability briefing, hosted by the Balearic Islands, Alexandra Wilms, director of corporate communications for the Balearic Islands government, gave examples of multiple projects across the islands where the tax has funded tourist-friendly improvements.
These projects include a four-year project to upgrade the Cami de Cavalls trail in Menorca, the purchase of land in Mallorca to expand the Llevant National Park, an underwater atlas to map the location and condition of Posodonia seagrass, which helps keep the beaches clean, dune recovery projects, including the installation of walkways so tourists can experience the dunes without damaging them, coastal clean-up projects which create local jobs, and social housing projects to enable tourism industry workers to live affordably, particularly in areas where residential accommodation has been affected by Airbnb.
Clare Jenkinson, senior destinations and sustainability manager for ABTA, added that for agents who need to sell the idea of the tourism tax to customers, the best strategy is to reiterate that they will be contributing to making the destination a better place for visitors. Sharing examples of the successful projects is a good way to get customers on board.
?This should resonate with everyone,? she said.
