MADRID'S mayoress has denied reports that a 'tourist tax' will be applied in the city, calling them 'a misunderstanding'.
Manuela Carmena of independent party Ahora Madrid - a faction of Podemos - says she has 'no intention' of making a daily charge to visitors to the capital, nor applying a tax to cashpoint machines as has been claimed.
She held an urgent meeting with regional president Cristina Cifuentes (PP) to clarify the situation, and promised 'there was no reason to worry' about the taxes mentioned, because 'they will never be approved'.
Certain countries request tourists pay a tax upon leaving them - one of which is Perú - and some towns popular with holidaymakers charge a daily fee, collected by hotel reception desks upon checking in or out, and which is paid to the municipal government.
These include burgeoning tourist resort areas such as the island of Sal in Cape Verde, and is aimed at funding infrastructure, services and facilities needed for travellers seeking to spend their holidays in the area.
Palma de Mallorca has considered applying these fees in the past - normally about a euro a day - but has not done so.
And Sra Carmena insists this will 'never happen' in Madrid for as long as she is in power.
Her first priority, she says, is ensuring no resident in Madrid gets their home repossessed or is evicted from a rental property because they cannot afford to pay or, if their eviction is unavoidable, they will be given social housing immediately.
The retired judge is due to open a mortgage mediation office in the city today (Wednesday) as promised in her electoral campaign, to help residents facing repossession fight to keep their homes by finding workable solutions.
