Spain’s most visited city, Barcelona has increased its newly increased tourist tax, which will enter into force as of April 1, 2024.
Tourists to Barcelona will now have to pay the city tax, which has been raised from €2.75 to €3.25, showing an 18 per cent increase or a €0.50 price increase, SchengenVisaInfo reports.
On top of the city tax, Euronews reports that tourists to Barcelona will also have to pay the regional tax, which varies on the type of accommodation they are staying in.
One of Barcelona’s Tourist Tax Can Cost Visitors a Minimum of €12 for One Week
Regional tax can charge between €1.70 and €3.50 per night, depending on the type of accommodation visitors have picked. For example, visitors staying in four-star hotels will have to pay €1.70, while the price for those in rental accommodation is €2.25 and for five-star hotels is €3.50.
Cruise passengers spending half a day in the city, are required to pay €3 to the region, while those staying for a day will have to pay €2.
On the other hand, the city tax, which is applicable for stays of one to seven consecutive nights, has been increased from €2.75 to €3.25 in April, 2024. In the same time last year (April 2023), the price increased from €1.75, indicating that in a two-year period, the price of the city tax has been raised by 85 per cent or €1.5.
Putting prices into perspective, visitors to Barcelona will pay €6.75 per night, including both the €3.25 city tax as well as the regional tourist tax of €3.50 per night for guests at five-star hotels, totalling up to €47.25 per person staying for a week in the Spanish city.
Expenses of those staying in rental accommodation add up to €5.50 per night, costing a visitor €38.50 for a week’s stay. The tourist tax for passenger cruisers staying 12 hours in the city, will have to pay €6.25.
Quality Tourism Is Barcelona’s Target
The price increases aim at establishing quality tourism over mass tourism, Barcelona’s mayor points out. The authorities estimate that the fee will generate €100 million in 2024, which will be allocated to boost the city’s budget.
It was the objective sought: to contain the number of tourists and increase tourist income because our model is no longer mass tourism but quality tourism, which adds value to the city.
Callboni also revealed that the economic data has already met 2019 levels in terms of revenues generated by tourists visiting the city. Every year, more than 32 million visit Barcelona.
Other Spanish cities and destinations with a tourist tax in place include Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera, also known as the Balearic Islands, where visitors over the age of 16 pay between €1 and €4 for a night stay.
