Majorca readies for fresh tourist crackdown with new charge for holidaymakers
The island has been rocked this summer by ongoing protests about overtourism.
British tourists visiting Majorca look set to be hit in the pocket - as the Spanish island considers bringing in a new charge.
In recent months the island has been hit by protests from people concerned about the impact of overtourism on the Belaeric island, which is visited by tens of thousands of people from the UK every year.
Now the local government - already facing calls to double the tourist tax - is mulling proposals for a new charge for vehicles not registered on the island.
The proposal, put forward by an opposition party, would involve a toll on many of the island's major roads, including some of those most heavily congested by vehicles driven by tourists.
This would include the main roads between Palma, Majorca's biggest settlement, and the towns of Andratx and Sa Pobla - the MA-1 and MA-13 respectively.
The Majorca Daily Bulletin, a local English language news outlet, also reports it would include the MA-10 road through the island's Tramuntana Mountains.
The toll, which will be discussed at a future council meeting, could impact tourists bringing in vehicles - including hire vehicles - from elsewhere in Spain or other locations via ferry.
Jaume Alzamora, spokesperson for the Més party, said thousands of vehicles use the island's roads without paying any tax.
Under the proposals, he said any money from the toll on vehicles not registered on Majorca would be used to maintain the roads.
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According to the Majorca Daily Bulletin, he believes the move would "contribute to the reduction of the use of private cars as well as improving the efficiency of public transport".
The overtourism row, which is also affecting other areas of Spain including Barcelona and the Canary Islands, has seen some British tourists reconsider their holiday destinations, with some people vowing never to return to the island as a result.
Tourism is a major part of Majorca's economy, and restaurants on the island were recently urged to slash their prices due to a loss in footfall.
