The mayor of San Sebastián describes the PSE-EE councilor’s statements as “surprising”, “even more so when this issue was unanimously approved in plenary in 2019”. “They will have to explain why this change in attitude is necessary,” he says.
Euskaraz irakurri: Goia: “Uste dut Donostiakoaren gainetik best interest batzuk inposatzen ari direla turismo Tasaren Kontura”
The Mayor of San Sebastian, Eneko Goiahas emphasized that, contrary to the allegations of the PSE-EE councilor, Marisol Garmendia, he is not “obsessed” with the tourist tax, and has assured that he feels that “Other interests take precedence over San Sebastian’s” in this case. As he noted, Garmendia’s statements “followed what was said by the head of Tourism of the Basque Government (Javier Hurtado, also of the PSE-EE)”. “It’s up to me to defend San Sebastian’s rights, and that’s what I’m going to do,” he warned.
Goia was interviewed in Euskadi Irratia’s “Faktoria” program, a day after the disagreements with his coalition partner about the possible application of tourist tax. According to Mayor Jeltzale “in San Sebastian keyand of our reality” that tool is “interesting” to improve the services we offer to visitors”. However, he has clarified that his intention is not to “impose anything”; “if Bilbao or Vitoria-Gasteiz don’t want to implement it, I understand”. Goia recalls the calculations made by the then Alderman for Tourism, Ernesto Gasco, who determined that with the payment of three euros, a supplement of “four million euros” would be obtained.
As he explained, the issue has been “discussed and worked out” with the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council, and that he met with the deputy of the Treasury three years ago, and both started “the common road”. However, he warned that it is not clear whether provincial powers would be “sufficient” to apply the rate. “If necessary, we would go to the Basque Parliament,” he added. Goia believes that a possible tax “wouldn’t scare away” tourists, citing the cases of Barcelona, Valencia or the Balearic Islands as examples.
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Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
