Holiday rentals news - Spain to give tax breaks to airlines bringing more tourists

Spain to give tax breaks to airlines bringing more tourists

Spain is to give tax cuts to airlines that bring more tourists to the country. The move was announced by Spain's prime minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, during the State of the Nation debate in the country's parliament.

The measure is key to boosting tourism, which plays a vital role in Spain's economy, according to typicallyspanish.com. Zapatero announced that airlines bringing increased numbers of tourists to Spain will not have to charge their passengers airport tax.

If airlines carry more travellers in the second half of 2009 than they did during the same period in 2008, the government will pay the tax on behalf of all its passengers. The move is expected to encourage more tourists to rent villas in Spain and other holiday accommodation.

It is estimated that the move will cost Spanish airport authority AENA 20 million euros. According to figures from the World Tourism Organisation, Spain was previously the world's second big tourist destination after France. However, it has now fallen to third place, having been usurped by the US.

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