It is set to increase its tourist tax later this year after already raising the cost of the charge back in April – here’s everything you need to know
Barcelona, a favourite city break spot in Spain, has revealed plans to hike its tourist tax for the second time in 2024. The increase will come into effect in October, but there’s a catch.
The tourist tax was first introduced in Barcelona back in 2012, adding an extra expense for holidaymakers in the region. To manage the city’s mass tourism, a surcharge was implemented based on the type of accommodation visitors choose.
Earlier this year in April, the charge was increased from €2.75 (£2.33) to €3.25 (£2.75). In a bid to further tackle the city’s overcrowding issue, the city council recently voted to raise the tax to €4 (£3.38) per person starting from October, as reported by Euronews.
This means that anyone planning a trip to Barcelona will have to cough up both the regional and city tourist tax. The regional tax fluctuates depending on your choice of accommodation.
For four-star hotels, it stands at €1.70 (£1.44), for rental accommodations like Airbnb, it’s €2.25 (£1.89), and for five-star and luxury hotels, it’s €3.50 (£2.96), according to Euronews. Cruise passengers spending less than 12 hours in the city are charged €3 (£2.54) by the region, while those staying more than 12 hours pay €2 (£1.69), reports Wales Online.
The separate city tax, which applies for a maximum seven-night stay, is currently set at €3.25 per night, and €4 for those staying in tourist apartments or stopping off by cruise for less than 12 hours. From October, tourists will have to pay €4 to the city on top of the regional tourist tax, which works out to an increase of €0.75 per night.
This news comes after Barcelona’s Mayor announced a crackdown on short term holiday rentals in the city, which is being blamed for the local housing crisis and ever-increasing rents. The city will not be handing out new rental licences and existing ones will not be renewed.
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