Cruise liners threaten to boycott Ibiza and Mallorca unless Balearic Government changes its mind about charging cruise passengers EUR2 per day under the new tourist tax rules.
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the association of cruise companies in Europe, said the new fee was undemocratic and could force cruise companies to leave the isles out of its routes.
Unless the Balearics invalidate the decision to slap the tourist tax on all cruisers for the first time in 2018, CLIA might take the issue to court.
Image: Ibiza Island, Spain
The Balearic Government has already come under fire for doubling the "eco tax" for holidaymakers in 2018 high season, meaning passengers in luxury accommodation would pay up to EUR4 per day.
Until now, cruise passengers have been exempt from the fee unless docked for over 12 hours.
However, from summer 2018 they could be forced to pay EUR2 per day regardless of the duration of their stay, which would generate revenue of around EUR1.8 million.