Lorraine Williamson
Holidaymakers heading to Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca or Formentera this summer may notice a higher charge on their hotel bill, after reports that the Balearic Islands have increased the eco-tax during the peak months of June, July and August.
The charge, officially known as the Sustainable Tourism Tax, is paid by tourists staying overnight in regulated accommodation across the Balearic Islands. It applies to hotels, apartments, rural stays, hostels, campsites and other tourist accommodation.
What is the Balearic eco-tax?
The Balearic eco-tax was introduced in 2016 as a way of raising money from tourism to help fund sustainability projects across the islands. The revenue is used for measures linked to environmental protection, heritage, water management, natural spaces and more sustainable tourism infrastructure.
Tourists normally pay the tax through their accommodation provider, either when booking, checking in or checking out. The amount depends on the type and category of accommodation, the season and the length of stay.
Children under 16 are exempt. The tax is also reduced by 50% from the ninth day of a stay in the same establishment, while certain cruise passengers whose home port is in the Balearics are also exempt.
What changes this summer?
According to Moncloa, the Balearic government has added an extra charge during the busiest summer months, with the increase applying in June, July and August. Source: Moncloa
For guests staying in five-star hotels, the reported rate rises from €4 to €6 per person per night. At some higher-end luxury properties, the total can reportedly reach €8 per person per night. Four-star hotels remain at €4, while holiday apartments and tourist rentals are listed at the standard €2 rate.
The lowest accommodation categories also face a change. Campsites, hostels and youth hostels are reported to rise from €1 to €2.50 per person per night during the summer surcharge period.
Travellers should check the exact amount with their hotel, tour operator or booking platform before arrival, as the final charge can vary depending on accommodation category, length of stay, exemptions and any applicable tax rules.
What will it mean on a hotel bill?
For a couple spending seven nights in a five-star hotel, the eco-tax would rise from €56 to €84 under the reported summer rate. That means an extra €28 for the stay compared with the previous €4-per-person nightly charge.
At the most exclusive properties, where the nightly charge can reportedly reach €8 per person, a couple staying for a week could pay more than €110 in tourist tax alone.
For families, the final bill will depend heavily on the ages of the children. Under the official rules, children under 16 do not pay the tax, which can make a noticeable difference for family holidays.
Why Mallorca will feel it most
The measure applies across the Balearic Islands, but Mallorca is likely to feel the greatest impact because it receives the largest share of visitors and has a high concentration of hotel accommodation.
The island has also been at the centre of Spain’s wider debate about overtourism, housing pressure, traffic congestion and the strain placed on beaches, water supplies and local infrastructure during the summer months.
In recent years, the Balearics have tried to shift the conversation away from simply attracting more visitors and towards managing when people travel, where they stay and how tourism affects residents’ daily lives.
Part of a wider tourism policy shift
The Balearic government has previously presented changes to the Sustainable Tourism Tax as part of a broader strategy to manage peak-season pressure and encourage a better spread of visitors throughout the year. Earlier proposals included raising the charge in summer and reducing or removing it during the quietest months.
Reports have also linked the tax debate with other measures aimed at tackling saturation, including restrictions on new tourist rental places and tougher action against illegal holiday accommodation.
For residents, the argument is that tourism should contribute more directly to the cost of protecting the islands. For visitors, it means that the price advertised for a holiday may not be the full amount they pay by the end of the stay.
Where does the money go?
The Sustainable Tourism Tax is designed to feed a fund for projects that reduce the impact of tourism and protect the islands’ natural and cultural resources. These can include environmental restoration, coastal protection, heritage projects, water-related infrastructure and improvements linked to more sustainable tourism.
The Dutch-girls briefing cites a 2025 revenue figure of more than €120 million. If the summer surcharge increases receipts this year, the Balearics could collect even more from visitors during the busiest months.
The political question is whether higher charges help manage pressure or simply become another cost absorbed by tourists in a destination where demand remains extremely strong.
What visitors should do before travelling
Anyone travelling to the Balearics this summer should check whether the eco-tax is included in the booking price or paid separately at the accommodation.
It is also worth checking the official calculator or asking the hotel directly, especially for longer stays, luxury hotels, family bookings or trips outside the main summer months.
The extra charge is unlikely to stop people travelling to Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca or Formentera. But it does underline a broader shift across popular European destinations: tourism taxes are no longer just a small local fee. Increasingly, they are becoming a policy tool for places trying to balance visitor demand with pressure on residents, services and the environment.