Malaga calls for a tax on short-term rental guests
Malaga's mayor Francisco de la Torre has asked the new PP-Vox regional government in Andalusia to push the central government for a tax on guests staying in tourist apartments. According to Preferente, De la Torre admits the regional government lacks direct authority but believes it can “influence.”
My take: this is not a new idea, but it gains political traction when a moderate mayor like De la Torre champions it. The hotel industry has been asking for this for years. The arguments:
- Fair competition: hotels pay VAT, municipal fees and strict regulations, tourist flats don't.
- Housing pressure: in Malaga, residential rents are soaring due to tourism.
- Earmarked revenue: the tax would fund tourism infrastructure.
The risk? OTAs and platforms like Airbnb argue this makes the destination more expensive and could shift demand elsewhere. Preferente notes the ball is now in Congress' court. We'll see if the new political cycle in Andalusia speeds up the debate. The whole sector is watching this proposal closely.
Quick questions
What exactly did the mayor of Malaga ask for?
Can the regional government create this tax on its own?
Who would be affected by the tourist tax in Malaga?
What does the hotel industry think of this proposal?
Could this tax discourage tourism in Malaga?
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