Following a wave of criticism from Alicante’s business community over the tourist tax planned for the Valencian Community, voices from the sector say the moment is not right. The Alicante State Institute of Economic Research (inca) has once again spoken against the tax on overnight stays proposed by the Valencian Courts, arguing that the timing is unsuitable given rising prices and a slower start to the summer season.
In line with the stance already voiced by Ineca’s president, Nacho Amirola, the institute’s plenary session earlier this month, and the coordinator of the think tank Working Committee this Thursday, Kino Palací, clarified the organization’s position. The message was clear: the tourist tax debate should not proceed at this juncture. During the presentation of Ineca’s Status Report, Palací noted that product prices are climbing and that higher costs could dampen demand for tourism offerings on a quarterly basis.
Palací added that there is no need for new taxes at this moment. He stressed that the province of Alicante operates under specific economic pressures facing families and local businesses, making a tourism tax ill-timed policies. He also emphasized tourism as a vital driver of Alicante’s economy, acknowledging that the sector has endured a challenging period since the health crisis, and has since undergone a rapid transformation to adapt and compete. Tourism, he argued, continually renews itself, strives to attract and retain visitors, and remains a major economic engine for the region.
Further pressure against the tax: the plenary of the Alicante Chamber approves a corporate statement calling for the withdrawal of the tax. This move aligns Ineca with other business groups that have recently opposed the implementation of the tax in the Valencian Community as the draft law advances through the legislative process. In addition to hotel associations Hosbec and Apha, the Chamber of Commerce joined the corporate statement expressed on Monday, signaling that the tax should not become a municipal levy imposed by individual city councils. It was highlighted that the tourism sector already contributes significantly to public finances, reinforcing this stance with the University of Alicante’s recent analysis showing that tourism activities in the Community of Valencia generate about 3,800 million euros in tax receipts. This figure underlines the sector’s substantial fiscal footprint and its importance to regional livelihoods.
As the debate moves forward, industry leaders acknowledge the need to balance growth with fiscal responsibility. They argue for a framework that respects the realities of households and small businesses, while preserving Alicante’s competitive position as a premier tourism destination. The ongoing discussions reflect a broader concern across the Valencian Community about how best to support the sector without imposing burdens that could dampen demand or slow down recovery in a market already facing price pressures and shifting consumer preferences. The dialogue continues as stakeholders push for policies that foster sustainable tourism growth and economic resilience for the province. A closer look at the data from the University of Alicante study reinforces the argument that tourism remains a cornerstone of regional prosperity and warrants careful consideration in any tax reform plans. Researchers highlight that the sector’s strong performance has been a key contributor to public revenue, yet the distribution and timing of new taxes must be weighed against potential impacts on demand and investment.