The tourist tax on overnight stays in the Gran Canarian municipality of Mogán is advancing steadily. By early May, the municipal coffers had already accumulated 721,769 euros. The goal for 2026 is to reach 1.3 million euros in revenue.
In Lanzarote, there is still not enough consensus to introduce a tourist tax, despite the fact that 51.8% of Lanzaroteans were in favor of introducing it and 21.8% against, in the latest Survey of Socioeconomic Habits and Confidence (ECOSOC) by the Canarian Institute of Statistics (ISTAC), the highest percentage in the entire archipelago, 7.5 points higher than the Canary Islands average, where 43.3% are in favor and 24% against.
The mayor of Mogán, Onalia Bueno, confirmed the normality in the management of this tax of 15 cents per person per night, implemented since March 2025 after overcoming the attempt by the hotel employers' association to suspend it provisionally.
Bueno has insisted that the money is earmarked, as it is exclusively destined for the improvement of public infrastructure, beach areas, and services directly linked to the tourism sector.
Radiography of income: the weight of vacation rentals
The revenue obtained comes from a total of 994 self-assessments submitted voluntarily by the accommodation businesses themselves.
When breaking down the data, the strong impact of vacation rentals in the area is evident. The vast majority, 874 self-assessments, were from vacation homes.
Meanwhile, non-hotel complexes such as apartments or bungalows completed 85 self-assessments, and hotels 35.
According to the City Council of the Gran Canarian town, the initial reservations and doubts that the measure aroused among businessmen have been fading over the months thanks to its ordinary functioning.
Despite having the money on hand, the council has decided to act cautiously and keep the funds frozen without making any investment until the Superior Court of Justice of the Canary Islands (TSJC) issues its final ruling. Although the verdict was expected last February, the ruling is still pending.
Furthermore, Bueno issued a warning for the future: if the Canarian high court ends up giving its definitive approval to the municipal ordinance, the Mogán City Council plans to increase the tax in future revisions.
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