British holidaymakers heading to Spain are being warned of a new "sunbed tax" that could land them with a fine of €250 (£216) for reserving sun loungers. The penalty is being enforced in popular destinations including Barcelona and Costa Blanca, according to travel insurer Tiger.
The crackdown follows numerous complaints about sunbeds being left unattended for hours while other tourists struggle to find a place. Under the new regulation, anyone caught holding loungers without using them risks the hefty fine.
The move has sparked mixed reactions among British travellers. One holidaymaker said: "Never had an issue with going to France. The people are nice and if you try and speak French they will speak English. It's the people in power that is the problem." Another commented: "Sunbed war hoggers are selfish and deserve a fine." Others have called for a boycott, with one person writing: "Let the Spanish have their ideological socialism. Why contribute?"
The new measure comes amid growing anti-tourism sentiment across Spain, with locals blaming foreign visitors for rising property prices, anti-social behaviour and pressure on public services. Protests have been held in several areas, with demonstrators chanting "tourists go home".
The backlash has alarmed those in the tourism industry. One hotel owner told the Majorca Daily Bulletin: "We've scared the tourists away. I wouldn't want to spend my holidays in a place where I don't feel welcome." A waiter added: "Except on weekends or rainy days, there's not much going on here; we're just waiting around, and it's been like this since May."
