Barcelona has increased its so-called “tourism tax” for the second time in four years, in a bid to curb overtourism.
The Spanish city, which is home to 1.6 million people, receives around 7 million visitors each year, placing a strain on the city’s resources.
On April 1, local authorities increased the city tax, which travelers see at the bottom of their accommodation bill, to 3.25 euros ($3.52) for each night spent in the city.
But Barcelona is not the only city imposing a tax on visitors, as travel has increased in the years since the pandemic.
After long delays, Venice will also begin a pilot of its hiker tax on April 25, which will charge 5 euros ($5.43) on certain peak days to enter the city in order to preserve its heritage.
Barcelona has raised its ‘tourism tax’ for the second time in four years, in an attempt to curb excess tourism
The Italian city already has an overnight tourist tax, which raised 37 million euros in 2023, more than 40 million dollars.
Travelers have long been accustomed to being charged additional costs, and the amount they will pay for a hotel room in the US usually includes additional taxes or so-called “resort fees.”
But the amount travelers have to pay in tourist tax can vary significantly depending on the destination.
Some are a small additional cost added to your hotel bill, while others may be a one-time or even daily fee.
Popular places can implement this tax in response to overtourism and environmental concerns, or simply as a way to help the local economy return funds to tourism infrastructure.
Barcelona first introduced its tourist tax in 2012.
In addition to the municipal surcharge, which increased from 2.75 euros ($2.98) to 3.25 euros ($3.52) this month, it also imposes a regional tax that varies depending on the type of accommodation you stay in.
For visitors staying in five-star or luxury hotels, the cost is 3.50 euros ($3.79) per night, for those staying in rentals – including Airbnb – it is 2.25 euros ( 2.43 dollars) per night, and for those in other hotels it is 1.70 euros (or $1.84) per night.
Cruise passengers, meanwhile, will be charged 3 euros ($3.25) for visits to the city of less than 12 hours and 2 euros ($2.17) for visits of more than 12 hours.
Taking into account the regional tourist tax and the municipal surcharge, if you visit Barcelona and stay in five-star accommodation, you would end up paying up to $51.16 in taxes for a one-week stay, according to The boy with the points.
Venice will also begin a pilot of its hiker tax on April 25, charging 5 euros ($5.43) on certain peak days to enter the city.
Elsewhere in Europe, Amsterdam charges a 7 percent fee for hotel rooms, as well as 3 euros (or about $3.26) per night.
Paris also raised its taxes earlier this year in preparation to host the 2024 Olympics this summer.
Île de France, the region that encompasses the French capital and its surrounding areas, increased its night tax by 200 percent in January.
Visitors to one-star hotels now pay 2.60 euros (about $2.82) per night, while rates peak at around $4 per night at a luxury hotel.
But it’s not just European cities that are becoming more expensive for foreign visitors.
In recent years, payments to tourists have grown to include not only taxes on airfare and accommodation, but also separate levies simply for visiting a particular destination.
The most notable example is Bhutan, a landlocked country located at the eastern end of the Himalayas.
Until August 2027, the country will charge a flat fee of $100 per day to visitors.
Clint Henderson, editor-in-chief of The Points Guy, told DailyMail.com: ‘Unfortunately, tourist taxes are a rapidly growing trend. It is an easy way for localities to earn revenue without taxing local citizens.
“It’s more politically acceptable and has the added benefit of helping to tackle overtourism.” The crowds at some of the most popular “Instagrammable” venues are simply out of control and locals are fed up with the crazy crowds in iconic cities like Venice.
According to him, this trend will only spread, meaning that some places will simply be out of financial reach for some visitors.
Backpackers and young nomads can choose other places and the more populated cities will not miss them, he added.
“Tourist taxes tend to reduce the number of visitors, but most localities will see this as a good thing because they want fewer and more wealthy visitors instead of mass tourism,” he said.
Amsterdam charges a 7 percent fee on hotel rooms, as well as €3 (or about $3.26) per night.
Until August 2027, Bhutan will charge a flat fee of $100 per day to visitors
Other places, including the United States, are considering implementing a tourist tax.
In his February State of the State address, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green proposed a $25 fee for visitors.
In his February State of the State address, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green proposed a $25 fee for visitors when they arrive and check into a hotel or short-term rental property.
The state, which faces a high volume of tourists each year, has discussed the possibility of a tax in the past, including a proposal that stalled in the state legislature last year.
Green said it was a “modest fee” that pales in comparison to some resort fees charged to visitors, and could generate more than $68 million a year.
This would go toward investing in prevention and beach preservation measures to stop another tragedy like last year’s Maui wildfires.
“The responsibility to protect Hawaii’s unique natural environment should extend to visitors to our islands,” he said.
“I think this is not too much to ask of visitors to our islands.”
