The tourist tax in Barcelona will be raised over the next two years, according to city officials.
Since 2012, the visitor hotspot has charged an additional fee in addition to the region’s tourist tax.
The city surcharge varies according to the type of visitor lodging and is only levied on official tourist lodging. Barcelona is Spain’s most visited city, and it is still suffering from overtourism.
How much is the tourist tax in Barcelona?
Barcelona visitors must pay both the regional tourist tax and the city-wide surcharge.
The nightly tax for guests in rental accommodation is €4, with €2.25 going to the region and €1.75 going to the city.
Those who stay in a five-star hotel must also pay €1.75 in city taxes, with the regional tax increasing to €3.50.
Cruise passengers who stay in the city for more than 12 hours pay €3 to the region and €1.75 to the city.
How much will the tourist tax in Barcelona be in 2023?
The municipal surcharge has now been increased by city officials.
This will be phased in over two years, with the first increase taking effect on April 1, 2023.
After that date, visitors to the city will have to pay €2.75 per night, a €1 increase.
The second increase will take effect on April 1, 2024, when the fee will be raised to €3.25.
That means five-star guests will pay a total of €6.75 per night – €47.25 per person for a week’s stay.
Barcelona’s authorities have stated that the increased tourist tax is intended to attract ‘quality’ tourism rather than large numbers of visitors.
The city receives an average of 32 million visitors per year, with many arriving on cruise ships.
Last year, the Catalan capital implemented new measures to reduce disruption caused by guided tours, such as noise restrictions and one-way systems.
The increase in the tourist tax, which is split between the Generalitat and the City Council, will also help the city’s budget.
Authorities anticipate that the fee will generate €53 million this year and up to €100 million by 2024.
“The economic data for tourism in 2019 is already increasing,” deputy mayor Jaume Collboni said.
“The goal was to limit the number of tourists while increasing tourist income because our model is no longer mass tourism but quality tourism that adds value to the city.”
The proceeds, according to the council, will be used to improve the city’s infrastructure, such as roads, bus services, and escalators.
What cities in Spain have a tourist tax?
Valencia recently announced the implementation of a tourist tax for visitors staying in all types of regional lodging, including hotels, hostels, apartments, and campgrounds.
It will be implemented in December 2023.
Depending on where they stay, travelers can expect to pay between 50 cents and €2 per night for up to seven nights.
The proceeds, according to authorities, will go toward the long-term development of the region’s tourism sector.
Visitors to Spain’s Balearic Islands must also pay a fee.
Holidaymakers aged 16 and up must pay the Sustainable Tourist Tax, which applies to Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera.
During peak season, the tax can reach €4 per night.