Compromís proposes 'eco-tax' for tourists visiting Tabarca

Compromís proposes the implementation of an 'eco-tax' on the island of Tabarca for all tourists visiting the island, which would be used to enhance public services and protect the heritage of this natural reserve in Alicante. It would also serve to create free public transport for the 50 registered inhabitants of the island, the smallest inhabited in Spain.

This initiative is not new in Spain, as it is already applied in other protected environmental areas such as the Cíes or Columbretes. The price would be set through an agreement between the City Council and the Generalitat Valenciana, with Compromís also taking it to Les Corts, although they understand it would not exceed three euros. A price similar to that paid in the other mentioned natural spaces.

This ticketing system would also allow for controlling the number of people arriving on the island. Currently, there is no fixed number. Various studies estimate between 250,000 and 300,000 visitors each year.

The group's spokesperson, Rafa Mas, along with the deputy and member of the Tourism Commission of Les Corts, Aitana Mas, has presented the proposal that they will bring to the plenary, which will be identical to the Non-Legislative Proposal that Compromís will present in Les Corts.

Compromís aims to "regulate the tourist pressure that the island suffers." The motion urges the Alicante City Council to study the implementation of an eco-tax, within its competence framework, to generate specific funding for sustainability and promote more conscious and responsible tourism.

Additionally, it calls on the Generalitat Valenciana to implement the necessary measures to ensure the obligation of providing public maritime transport service to Tabarca Island at three times: early morning (between 7 and 8), midday, and afternoon.

Aitana Mas recalled that this Wednesday, the amendment presented by Compromís will be debated in the Finance Commission of Les Corts, for the Generalitat to start working on making the candidacy of Tabarca island as a UNESCO biosphere reserve possible in these budgets. According to the deputy, "the current visitor pressure makes it impossible to accept this candidacy, so it is necessary to work on regulating visits to the island, as well as implementing an eco-tax that directly benefits the island's sustainability and its inhabitants."

For the deputy spokesperson of Compromís in Les Corts, "the stance of the current Consell of Carlos Mazón is erroneous, who boasted about not applying the tourist tax in the Valencian Community or who has just enabled urban planning at will and 200 meters from the coast."