Catalonia Hikes Tourist Tax to Crackdown on Overtourism

Visitors to Catalonia, Spain could soon face a tourist tax of up to €15 per night as the region prepares to double its existing levy in an effort to manage surging visitor numbers.

The new legislation, signed by the Catalan government, will have the biggest impact on Barcelona, where tourists may pay the maximum rate. Other areas in Catalonia will also have the option to increase their levies if they introduce a surcharge that previously applied only in the capital.

Currently, visitors to four-star hotels in Barcelona pay €5.70 per night, while those staying in five-star hotels pay €7.50. With the hike, these rates will significantly rise, potentially adding hundreds of euros to the cost of a longer stay.

At least 25% of the revenue generated from the tax will be allocated to housing policies, a move aimed at addressing soaring rent prices and the impact of short-term holiday rentals.

Comuns parliamentary spokesperson David Cid defended the tax increase as a fair and necessary measure, noting that wealthier visitors could absorb the extra cost.

“A person who comes to Catalonia paying €400 or €500 for a night in a hotel can pay €7 more,”

David Cid

He added that similar tax hikes are happening across Europe as part of a broader push to regulate tourism’s impact.

Part of a Wider Crackdown on Overtourism

Spain is a popular destination for Schengen Visa applicants and British holidaymakers, and visa holders must also comply with entry rules, stay limits, and financial requirements when planning their trip.

The tax hike is the latest move in Spain’s ongoing battle with overtourism, particularly in hotspots like Barcelona. Overcrowding, resource shortages, and the rapid growth of short-term rentals have put pressure on local communities.

Public sentiment has turned against mass tourism, with a 2024 YouGov study revealing that nearly a third of Spaniards believe there are too many foreign visitors.

Tensions boiled over in July 2024, when thousands of Barcelona residents protested against mass tourism, even squirting water at diners in tourist-heavy areas while chanting “Tourists go home.”

With the latest tax increase, Catalonia joins a growing list of European destinations looking to curb the negative effects of mass tourism while also increasing revenue from visitors.

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