Holidays to Majorca, Ibiza, Formentera and Menorca are about to get more expensive thanks to a new tourist tax. The Balearic island authorities have announced a new duty to fund "sustainable tourism" which will be imposed on anyone holidaying after July 1 even if the holiday is already booked.

On arrival holidaymakers over the age of 14 will have to pay the tax for each night of their stay. The rate depends upon the hotel's star rating and the sliding scale starts at 50 cents (around 40p) per person per night if you're camping or staying in a hostel, while a hotel with star ratings between one and three will cost ¤1 per night per person and a nighly stay in a four or five star hotel costs an extra ¤2.

The rate halves after day nine and during November and March. Nevertheless, the levy could add another £11 a week per person or around £70 for a family of four spending a fortnight on the islands on top of the cost of the holiday. It will be collected on arrival by reception staff.

A tourist tax is also applied in Barcelona and the rest of Catalonia and ranges from €0.45 to €2.50. The extra income is split between tourism boards and town halls.

The Balearic are not the first to impose a tourist tax. Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Greece already do so but it is usually included in the hotel cost. Malta will also be charging an "eco-tax" from June 1 of around 40p per night to go towards protecting the island's natural resources.