ASOFUER opposes proposed €0.56 nightly tourist levy in La Oliva
The tourism business association in Fuerteventura questions whether La Oliva’s proposed levy on overnight stays is lawful and will consider legal action.
ASOFUER, the tourism business association in Fuerteventura, opposes a proposed €0.56 charge per person per night for stays in La Oliva. It questions whether the council’s planned tourist levy is lawful.
Onda Fuerteventura reported on 30 October 2026 that La Oliva council had given the tax rules initial approval. The report gives no date for collection to begin. The proposal is at the initial approval stage, and the charge is not yet in force.
Why the association objects
ASOFUER president Antonio Hormiga said the association had raised legal concerns before. It had done so in public statements and meetings with public bodies. The association accepts that tourism should help maintain and improve the destination. But it says any contribution needs a clear legal basis, a defined purpose and proven benefits for residents.
ASOFUER questions whether a charge on overnight stays meets the legal requirements for a council fee. It wants a review of the services covered by the proposed rules and their link to those who would pay. It also wants the financial study used to set the charge and the legal basis for exemptions to be checked.
Mogán ruling cited as a precedent
The association cited a Canary Islands High Court judgment dated 28 May 2026, which was made public in July. The judgment annulled Mogán’s tourist-fee rules in Gran Canaria.
According to the report, the court found that the rules did not clearly set out which services and activities justified the charge. It also questioned whether they met rules linking fees to service costs. Mogán council announced its intention to appeal. ASOFUER sees the ruling as a relevant precedent. It is not a ruling on La Oliva’s proposal.
What happens next
ASOFUER says it will examine the council’s file and submit objections during the public consultation period. If the council keeps terms that ASOFUER considers unlawful, the association says it will take the appropriate action. This would mean formal challenges through the council’s procedures and the courts.
The association has also offered talks with La Oliva council. It favours lawful charges linked to specific facilities, services or managed visits. These should provide clear benefits for conservation and infrastructure. It says it does not support privatising natural spaces or charging everyone to enjoy them.