Barcelona will raise the tourist tax for cruise passengers visiting the city for less than 12 hours, Mayor Jaume Collboni announced. The current tax for stopover cruise passengers is €7 ($7.61) per day. The mayor stated that the tax will be “substantially increased” but did not specify the new amount.
Collboni explained that stopover cruise passengers use public spaces intensively without contributing significantly to the city’s economy, creating a sense of overpopulation. The increased revenue will be used to fund local projects, such as air-conditioning schools, to benefit residents instead of relying on local taxes.
Advertisement
Hey there! Want to support us? If you’re planning on shopping on Amazon, please consider using amzn.to/4bPDFNL. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, but helps us keep the lights on. Thanks for your support!
The proposal needs to be approved by the Catalan regional government. This decision comes amidst growing anti-tourism sentiment in Spain, with protests in popular destinations against rising housing costs and the perceived negative impacts of tourism on local residents’ lives.
Barcelona has already implemented measures like banning short-term tourist rentals by 2028. The tourist tax increase is a step towards Barcelona’s efforts to manage tourism, promote responsible tourism practices, and improve the quality of life for residents.