People heading from the UK to a popular resort in Spain will have to pay a new tourist tax from the end of next year.
Councils in Valencia have been given the green light on a plan that will see a surcharge of up to two euros per night. The move has caused huge controversy.
Benidorm has already said it will "never" impose the tourist tax but other areas of Valencia will and there are fears that even Benidorm could change its mind if financial pressures increase, the Mirror reports.
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The Valencia region includes the Costa Blanca, which is visited by millions of UK tourists each year.
Approval for the new charge anywhere in Valencia was published in the Official Gazette of the Generalitat Valencia on Monday. It will be known as the Valencian Tax on Tourist Stays (IVET) and could bring in 30 million euros a year to spend on green projects.
In an unexpected move, Valencia council has extended the tourist tax to cruise passengers, of which there are thousands each year. There are some exemptions to the tax, such as children under the age of 16 and a number of disabled people.
Prices range from 0.5 euros for people staying in tourist hostels to two euros in five-star hotels. Four and three star establishments, 80% of the hotel offer on the Costa Blanca, will charge one euro per person per day, and cruise passengers 1.5 euros.
It would apply to tourists staying overnight, if the local council chooses to enforce the tax. It's expected that the rules would apply to accommodation such as hotels, spas, hostels, holiday rentals, campsites and cruise ships.
Benidorm has yet to confirm its stance but last December, its mayor, Toni Perez declared: "No and never! We will not apply it!"
He said asking holidaymakers to pay an extra fee per night when they are on holiday will "penalise tourist activity" and has rejected its implementation. He says Benidorm has always rejected the idea and will resist all efforts to apply it.
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