Cruise ship passengers making brief stopovers in Barcelona are set to face a massive tax hike after city officials voted through plans to increase daily tourist fees. Holidaymakers visiting the iconic Spanish city for less than 12 hours will soon have to pay €24 (£21) per day - up 380% from the current €5 (£4.30) rate.
The proposal, recently approved by Barcelona City Council, is scheduled to take effect next April, subject to a 30-day public consultation. By 2030, the rate will rise again to €30 (£26) per day, giving the Catalonian capital the highest cruise passenger tax in the Mediterranean, ahead of major ports like Amsterdam and Santorini.
Revenue and Local Support
The council expects the increase to generate an extra €24million (£20million) a year by 2030. Deputy Mayor for Economy Jordi Valls defended the move, stating the city wants to shift financial pressure away from local residents and manage mass tourism.
"The bet has been to freeze taxes on families and put fiscal pressure on tourism, to compensate for the consequences of visitor presence in some neighbourhoods and to discourage it in the case of cruise passengers," he said, according to The Olive Press.
Arnau Vives, a local councillor, also backed the measure, adding that cruise day-trippers "put pressure on public space" while spending money on mobility and security, "while contributing nothing to restaurants or hotels".
Industry Backlash and Passenger Data
Industry leaders, however, have hit back at the decision. The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) branded the hike disproportionate, urging that tourism policies be "transparent" and linked to measurable local benefits.
Around four million cruise passenger movements passed through Barcelona in 2025, aboard just under 900 vessels, cementing its position as Europe’s busiest cruise port. However, the data shows that the average cruise passenger spends less than six hours on land per visit.
Hotel Tax Cap
In a boost for traditional holidaymakers staying on land, the council also voted to cap the tourist tax for hotel guests at €4 (£3.40) per night - down from the current total rate of up to €7.50 (£6.30) for top-tier hotels.
