Cruise tourism

A FEW weeks ago it was the cruise ship Marella Voyager that called at the port for the first time. All her passengers and part of her crew spent a sensational day getting to know the city and different parts of the province.

Last week, another largescale cruise ship, Seven Seas Voyager, docked at the port of Almeria for the first time.

The councillor for Tourism, Joaquin Perez de la Blanca, welcomed the ships as is traditional every time a ship visits the city for the first time.

“The Seven Seas Voyager with more than 700 passengers and 450 crew members had a very important economic impact,” confirmed the councillor.

The ship is a luxury cruise operated by Regent Seven Cruises which is a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Lines Holdings, a company based in Miami, Florida. The company is considered one of the most innovative in the cruise sector, with a history of 51 years, breaking the limits of traditional cruises.

Spain continues to be a favourite destination for retired British expatriates and the lifestyle is very conducive to a healthy, happy retirement. Of course, like any country, there are some drawbacks and a key concern for many people is the local tax regime.

It is important to understand how being Spanish resident affects your tax position. Once you meet any of the criteria that make you tax resident here (you spend 183+ days in Spain, or your centre of economic or vital interests is here), you are liable for Spanish tax on your worldwide income, gains and wealth, and subject to the Spanish succession and gift tax regime.

Besides the income and capital gains taxes, Spain additionally imposes an annual wealth tax which generally affects individuals with net worldwide assets over €1,000,000.

We often come across people who would love to live in Spain but are too worried about how much tax they’ll pay to make the move. They are limited to spending short periods in their Spanish holiday home instead –which post Brexit is more of a minefield with the EU’s 90-day rule.

But you do not necessarily need to fear taxation in Spain – some people even find they improve their tax situation. While tax rates can look high,