The Association of Apartments and Tourist Accommodation of the Valencian Community (APTURCV), together with operators in the sector in Calp, has demanded that the City Council revoke the surcharge of 40 Euros per place for tourist accommodation in the new collection fee wasteThis measure, initially approved in the May plenary session, is in addition to the ordinary tax rate. It has been criticized for lacking "technical and legal rigor" and for creating "unfair advantages" and potential "double taxation" for a sector "that generated more than 135 millones de euros y 1.400 jobs in Calpe in 2025».
According to APTURCV, the modification of the Tax Ordinance for the waste collection fee implies a reduction of 18 % for residential housing and an increase of 5% For commercial activities, however, they point out, it introduces a new additional charge for tourist accommodation, calculated "per bed" and added to the existing rate according to the cadastral zone. APTURCV considers this surcharge an "unjustified penalty" that lacks a "solid technical, economic, and legal basis."
The association maintains that any tax must be linked to the actual cost of the service provided. In this regard, it denounces the fact that the Calp City Council has not publicly disclosed the actual cost of the waste collection and treatment service specifically attributable to tourist accommodations, nor the methodology or objective criteria used for its calculation.
They denounce a lack of technical justification
APTURCV points out that all properties are already subject to a standard waste collection fee. The introduction of an additional surcharge "without a detailed and verifiable technical justification" places the sector in a scenario of potential "double taxation" and "excessive tax burden," they add.
One of the aspects most questioned by the association is the theoretical criterion per person per year proposed by the city council to calculate the surcharge on tourist accommodations. APTURCV argues that this model has "serious weaknesses" because it does not distinguish the actual length of stays, does not take into account seasonality or effective occupancy, and is not based on the actual generation of waste.
Requests and willingness to collaborate
In a letter addressed to the mayor of Calp, Ana SalaAPTURCV and the companies The signatory operators have requested full and immediate access to the administrative file regarding the modification of the fee. They also request the full publication of the supporting economic and financial report, a detailed technical report on waste generation by type of use, explicit justification of the criteria applied to calculate the surcharge on tourist accommodations, and an assessment of the measure's actual economic impact on the sector.
The association demands that, until this information is available and sufficiently verified, the proposal be reviewed and suspended to avoid the approval of an ordinance with insufficient justification and potentially contestable due to a lack of proportionality, transparency, and technical rigor.
Silvia Blasco: "We cannot accept a surcharge without supporting data."
The president of APTURCV, Silvia Blasco, emphasized that the sector is not refusing to contribute to the actual cost of waste management services, but "rejects being used as an 'easy contributor' to balance the municipal budget." Blasco indicated that tourist accommodations are willing to responsibly assume their share, provided there is clear technical support, an equitable distribution of the burden, and genuine dialogue with the sector.
"What we cannot accept is a surcharge of 40 Euros “This additional fee per parking space is added to the regular rate without supporting data, a transparent financial report, or a rigorous analysis of actual waste generation,” Blasco stated. The president of APTURCV added that “this measure arbitrarily penalizes a strategic sector for Calpe and opens the door to double taxation, which is difficult to justify.”
Despite its firm stance, APTURCV has reiterated its willingness to collaborate with the Calpe City Council. The organization has offered to provide real data on occupancy and usage of tourist accommodations, to participate in the design of waste management financing models that reflect the actual amount of waste generated and the seasonality of the activity, and to contribute to improving the efficiency of waste management related to the tourism sector. APTURCV requests an urgent meeting with the Calpe City Council to reconsider the measure.
