Spain's Barcelona Implements Doubled Tourist Tax for UK Travellers
UK travellers heading to Spain have been informed of a significant 'doubling' of charges for all tourists visiting the popular hotspot of Barcelona, effective from today, April 1. Reports from Spain confirm that the municipal surcharge has been increased, impacting visitors depending on their accommodation type.
Increased Costs for Tourists
Depending on the category of accommodation, tourists may now pay up to €15 more per night in Barcelona. This rise is due to an increase in the tourist tax, which now ranges from €1 to €7 based on accommodation type, combined with a municipal tax that has risen from €4 to €8. These taxes apply to stays in hotels, hostels, and short-term rentals, and when combined, can amount to up to €15 per night per person, as reported by LeFigaro.
For example, in a four-star hotel—which makes up nearly half of the local hotel stock—a two-night stay for a couple could cost up to €45 more. Cruise ship passengers are also affected: they will pay €12 instead of €8 if they disembark for more than twelve hours, or €14 instead of €11 for stays under twelve hours. An exception remains for hostels listed in the Generalitat de Catalunya’s Youth Hostel Register, where the fee stays at €1.
Background and Implementation
The measure was initially announced in March 2025 but was only approved by the Catalan parliament a few weeks ago. Barcelona City Council has voted in favour of increasing the council tax by one euro per year until 2029, with the aim of tackling the housing crisis. Residents have regularly protested against rising rents, which they attribute partly to the growing number of short-term rentals like Airbnb.
With these new rules, the Autonomous Community of Catalonia hopes to raise 200 million euros annually. On its website, the Catalan government states that "25% of the revenue from the tourist tax will be allocated to the Generalitat’s housing policies, whilst 75% will be channelled into the Tourism Promotion Fund, [in particular] for housing policies [and] economic development policies."
Specific Tax Increases and Phasing
Under the new regulation, the tax will rise to seven euros per night in five-star accommodations in Barcelona and to 3.40 euros in four-star accommodations. It will also be more expensive for cruise passengers, especially those disembarking in the Catalan capital. Those staying for less than 12 hours will pay six euros in Barcelona and 4.50 euros in other ports in Catalonia, according to 20 Minutos.
The tax increase will be phased in over two years. The first increase takes place this April, with the remainder implemented a year later in April 2027. At that point, the tourist tax will be completely doubled. However, in Barcelona, the increase is more immediate, starting this month to address the high tourist pressure the city experiences, unlike the rest of Catalonia.
Public and Sector Reactions
The increase in the tourist tax in Catalonia has garnered support from a majority of parliamentary groups and a large part of the population, particularly in Barcelona where overtourism has disrupted housing and community life. Demonstrations by residents against the massive influx of visitors have occurred, with 76.7% of the population believing the city has reached its maximum capacity for tourists.
These sentiments are reflected in the latest survey on tourism perception in Barcelona, published by the city council, where 56% of residents support the increase in the tourist surcharge. This public support contrasts sharply with the total opposition from the Catalan tourism sector. Following the announcement of the agreement between the PSC, ERC, and Comuns parties, business owners in Catalonia’s tourist accommodation sector expressed their "total and unanimous rejection."
The employers’ association Confecat asserted that the measure is "improvised, lacking strategic rigour, disconnected from the country’s real needs, and driven solely by revenue collection." Additionally, the Catalan Federation of Tourist Apartments (Federatur) warned that the tax increase will lead to a loss of competitiveness for the region and make holidays more expensive for Catalans. This position is supported by other groups such as Foment del Treball, the Barcelona Hotel Guild, Pimec, and the Barcelona Tourist Apartment Association.
According to Jordi Clos, president of the Hotel Association, there is concern among tourism sector representatives about the impact of the tax increase on business. "It will be necessary to monitor the impact this measure may have to prevent a significant and lasting decline," he stated after the Catalan Parliament approved the increase in February.
