British tourists are being cautioned to brace themselves for impending “daily charges” looming over holidaymakers in Spain, adding to the financial strain amid a cost-of-living crisis.

Jose Maria Bellido, the Mayor of Cordoba, rationalised the necessity of such charges, emphasising the burden placed on municipal services due to the influx of tourists.

“We are going to reach a point where it is necessary to impose a tourist tax,” Mayor Bellido told Europa Press. “There are municipalities that understand that it would be positive… There are cities in which there is an agglomeration with significant costs for public services… [A tourist tax] may be reasonable.”

Reports suggest that visitors to Catalonia and the Balearic Islands could face a daily charge of approximately £3. In Catalonia, the tourist tax rates will vary based on accommodation type and season, ranging from €2.25 to €3.50 per night.

While some officials, like Mayor Francisco de la Torre of Malaga, advocate for the tax, highlighting the indirect contributions of tourists, others like the Tourism Business Council of the Confederations of Entrepreneurs of Andalucia oppose it, fearing negative impacts on the sector’s competitiveness and the regional economy.

This proposed change echoes similar measures adopted by other tourist destinations like Paris, Venice, Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Manchester, aiming to curb overtourism and revitalise local areas.

Locals in seaside towns, including Bournemouth, have also launched petitions advocating for tourist taxes to be implemented in specific zones to mitigate the strain on local resources.

Maris Lake, one of the proponents behind the appeals, underscored the need for accountability, suggesting that imposing charges on visitors could foster a greater sense of responsibility.

“We know how our beaches end up after the weekend… When something is free, people abuse it. If people had to pay, it could shift their mentality,” Lake told the Bournemouth Echo.