Spain is rolling out a series of new travel rules and tourist restrictions that will affect British holidaymakers from 2025 onwards. The measures include a digital border system, higher tourist taxes, and limits on all-inclusive alcohol in certain resort areas.
The European Union's new Entry/Exit System (EES) began implementation on 12 October 2024, requiring fingerprints and facial recognition at airports and ferry ports for non-EU travellers. The Foreign Office advises allowing extra time for border checks, as the system will record entry and exit data digitally.
Tourists visiting the Balearic Islands – Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera – face increased overnight charges. The tourist tax could rise from £3.36 to £5.04 per person per night, with higher rates for four- and five-star hotels. Cruise passengers will see a 200% increase, from £1.68 to up to £5.04 per night. Children under 16 and those visiting in January or February are exempt.
In Catalonia, the tourist tax is set to double, reaching up to £12.40 per person per night for five-star hotels, depending on accommodation type. Visitors to wider Catalonia will be charged between 99p and £4.95 per day.
Additionally, several areas in Mallorca and Ibiza, including Playa de Palma, S’Arenal, Magaluf, and San Antonio’s West End, will impose restrictions on all-inclusive alcohol deals. These measures follow local protests against mass tourism and overcrowding.
