Study Suggests €2 Per Night Tourist Tax Could Raise €131M Annually in the Canary Islands

CANARY ISLANDS – A new study by researchers at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) suggests that a tourist tax of €2 per person per night represents the optimal balance for the Archipelago, with the potential to generate approximately €131 million per year.

Published in the journal Tourism Economics , the research analyzed survey data from over 35,000 visitors. Under a €2 daily model, a couple staying seven nights would pay an additional €28, while a family of four would contribute €56. Researchers emphasize that this represents an economic proposal, not an approved tax by the regional government.

Varying Acceptance by Nationality and Accommodation

The model indicates that roughly 52% of visitors would accept a €2 nightly fee. Acceptance rates vary by nationality: travelers from Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands were most willing to pay, whereas UK, Irish, and mainland Spanish visitors were more resistant.

Guests in luxury five-star hotels and those on shorter stays showed higher willingness to contribute. By island, La Palma showed the highest acceptance (69.3%), followed by Tenerife (53.8%) and Lanzarote (53.7%).

Clear Purpose Drives Support

The study highlights that transparent allocation of revenue is critical. The highest proportion of supporting tourists specified they would willingly pay if funds were directly earmarked for environmental preservation, public infrastructure, or improving local quality of life.

While discussions continue, no tourist tax is currently active in the archipelago. Visitors booking holiday apartments in los cristianos can continue to enjoy their stays without any additional daily tourist charges.