A popular holiday hotspot in Spain is all set to increase its tourist tax, which will impact visitors to one of the country’s most popular cities.
Catalonia, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Spain and Europe, first introduced the tax in 2012. On Thursday, the Catalan government approved an agreement to double the tourist tax in an effort to manage the rising number of visitors. As a result, in Barcelona, the fee could reach up to €15 (approximately £12.30) per person per night, depending on the type of accommodation.
Currently, the highest charges are €7.50 (£6.20) for five-star hotel guests, €5.70 (£4.70) for four-star hotels, and €6.25 (£5.20) for those staying in rental apartments.
Elsewhere in Catalonia, authorities will have the option to implement the surcharge, which was previously exclusive to Barcelona.
This means visitors to other parts of the region could pay between €1.20 (99p) and €6 (£4.95) per day, based on their accommodation type.
The additional revenue generated from the tax will be allocated to support housing policies in Catalonia.
David Cid, a spokesperson for the left-wing Comuns party, said: “A person who comes to Catalonia paying €400 or €500 for a night in a hotel can pay €7 more,’ when speaking to Spanish radio network Cadena Ser.
Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni confirmed that the city would increase the tax hours after the deal was made public, but did not specify when this would take place.
It comes as a series of protests broke out in Barcelona last summer as locals demanded “tourists go home”.
The protests, organised by over 140 neighborhood and housing activist groups, are part of a broader movement against overtourism that has also seen demonstrations in the Canary Islands, Majorca, and Ibiza.
Locals argue that mass tourism has driven up housing costs, made rental properties unaffordable, and contributed to gentrification. Many believe that while businesses profit from tourism, residents face rising rents, environmental issues, and overcrowding.