Barcelona first introduced an extra tourist tax in 2012 in an effort to attract ‘quality’ tourism to the city, as it was struggling with overtourism. The city’s tourist tax is set to increase once again on 1 April, with the fee being added on top of the region-wide tourist tax. The surcharge varies depending on the type of visitor accommodation and is only levied on official tourist lodging. Barcelona is Spain’s most visited city, seeing an average of 32 million visitors a year, many of whom arrive on cruise ships.
Visitors to Barcelona are required to pay both the regional tourist tax and the city-wide surcharge. The regional tax varies depending on the type of accommodation, such as hotels, rental accommodation like Airbnb, or luxury hotels. Cruise passengers spending less than 12 hours in the city pay a different fee than those spending more than 12 hours. The city tax has been steadily increasing over the years, and in April 2024, it will rise to €3.25 for a maximum seven-night stay. This means guests in five-star accommodation will pay a total of €6.75 per night, while cruise day-trippers will pay €6.25.
Barcelona’s authorities have stated that the increased tourist tax is intended to attract ‘quality’ tourism over big visitor numbers. In 2022, the city introduced new measures to curb disruption from guided tours, such as noise restrictions and one-way systems. The hike in the tourist tax will also bolster the city’s budget, with authorities expecting to bring in as much as €100 million in 2024. The proceeds from the tax will be used to fund the city’s infrastructure, including improvements to roads, bus services, and escalators.
Barcelona is not the only Spanish city levying a tourist tax on visitors. The Balearic Islands, including Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera, charge a nightly fee for each holidaymaker aged 16. Known as the Sustainable Tourism Tax, the fee is aimed at promoting better tourism practices and conserving the islands’ natural resources. Valencia had planned to introduce a similar measure but it was scrapped following the 2023 elections. The proposed tax would have seen travellers paying between 50 cents and €2 per night for up to seven nights.
The tourist tax in Barcelona has been a topic of discussion due to its impact on accommodation prices for visitors. As of 1 April 2024, guests will have to pay €3.25 to the city on top of the regional tourist tax, resulting in increased costs for accommodations. The goal behind the tax is to encourage ‘quality’ tourism and reduce the number of tourists while increasing income from tourism. The council hopes that the additional revenue will allow for improvements to the city’s infrastructure and services, ultimately benefiting both visitors and residents alike.
