Reuters reports comments by Gabriel Escarrer, one of Sol Melia’s two deputy chairmen, who told El Economista that Spain’s airport taxes are among the highest in the world.
The rise in the value of the euro has also been blamed for 1m fewer British holidaymakers visiting Spain last year.
Spain, the world's second biggest tourist destination after France, relies on tourism for around 10% of its GDP, according to Reuters.
Escarrer also told El Economista that Sol Melia's future investments would be in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and some holiday destinations in Asia.
‘The urban sector in Spain is also very important and we are thinking about going into the US,’ he said.
However, Sol Melia would use its cash flow, rather than debt, to make investments and would partner with travel companies to aid its expansion.
See also:
Spain costa too much, say Brits (19/01/09)
UK visits to Spain fall 15% (23/12/08)
Spain invests in tourism as visitors decline (24/11/08)
Sol Melia hit by slump in demand from UK (11/11/08)
Sol Melia sees softer summer demand (07/08/08)
Spanish travel sector weakness to continue (05/08/08)