From the Algarve to Barcelona, taxes are being implemented to curb overtourism.
Overtourism might have been the travel industry’s buzzword in 2023.
News about the detrimental effects of too many tourists was everywhere. The world’s most popular destinations, such as Venice, Barcelona, and New Zealand, are fighting to keep visitor numbers in check.
What’s the issue with overtourism? Local residents suffer as landlords buy up holiday rentals, making housing unaffordable. Authorities struggle to handle the trash left behind by tourists, and pollution exacerbates the climate catastrophe.
In 2022, city officials stated that Barcelona’s tourist tax would be raised over the next two years.
Since 2012, visitors to the Catalan capital have had to pay both the regional tourist tax and an additional citywide levy.
On April 1, 2023, city authorities raised the municipal fee to €2.75.
A second increase will occur on April 1, 2024, when the cost will rise to €3.25.
The fee applies to guests who stay in official tourist accommodations.
The council stated that the revenues will be utilized to upgrade the city’s infrastructure, including roads, transit services, and escalators.
Many countries have already implemented a tourist fee for a number of reasons.
Some argue that limiting the number of tourists is necessary to avoid overtourism.
For some, it’s practically like imposing a sustainability tax on every guest. The proceeds from these taxes are used to maintain tourism facilities and conserve natural resources.
1. Switzerland
The tourist tax in Switzerland varies by location. The cost per night and every person is approximately €2.20.
Accommodation quotes typically exclude the tourist tax, which is stated as a separate payment to make it easier to track.
And it only applies to stays of less than 40 days.
2. USA
Most of the United States imposes a hotel or lodging tax on travelers who rent accommodations. It’s also known as an occupancy tax.
These fees apply to hotels, motels, and inns. The highest rate is apparently paid in Houston, with a 17% tax on hotel bills.
3. Austria
In Austria, the overnight accommodation tax varies per province. In Vienna and Salzburg, hotels charge an additional 3.02 percent per person.
The tourism levy is also known as the Tourismusgesetz or Berherbergungsbeiträge.
4. Belgium
In Belgium, a tourist tax is applied for each night of stay in accommodations.
The price is sometimes included in the hotel’s room rate, but in some cases it is separate and charged as an additional charge, so check your bill carefully.
Antwerp and Bruges levy a per-room cost. The pricing in Brussels varies according to the hotel’s size and grade.
In general, it costs roughly €7.50.
5. Bhutan
While most countries’ visitor fees are less than €20, Bhutan’s tax is extremely hefty in comparison.
Most foreigners pay a minimum daily fee of $250 (€228) per person per day during peak season, which is slightly lower in low season.
However, it includes several expenses, such as lodging, transportation within the country, a guide, food, and admission fees.
6. Bulgaria
Bulgaria charges a tourist fee for overnight stays.
It is extremely modest and fluctuates based on the locality and hotel grade, reaching up to roughly €1.50.
7. Caribbean Islands
Most Caribbean islands levy tourist taxes or charge a departure fee.
Several countries, including Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the US Virgin Islands, charge fees for visitors.
The fees vary from €13 in the Bahamas to €45 in Antigua and Barbuda.
8. Croatia
Croatia hiked the tourist tax in 2019. However, the increased charge only applies during the peak summer season.
Visitors pay approximately ten kuna (€1.33) per person each night.
9. Czech Republic
The Czech Republic’s capital city, Prague, requires only a visitor fee.
It is quite little (less than €1) and costs per person, per night for up to 60 nights. Children under the age of 18 are exempt from paying the tax.
10. France
In France, visitors must pay a ‘taxe de séjour’. It is included in your hotel bill and varies by city.
The costs range from €0.20 to approximately €4 per person, per night.
Tourist hubs like Paris and Lyon use the money to maintain their infrastructure.
To prepare for the 2024 Olympics, the tourist tax on hotel rooms has been increased by 200 percent beginning of January 2024.
The charge varies by kind of lodging, ranging from €0.75 to €15 per night.
11. Germany
Germany imposes a ‘culture tax’ (‘kulturförderabgabe’) and a “bed tax” (a bettensteuer) in cities such as Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Berlin.
The cost is around 5% of your accommodation bill.
12. Greece
The tourist tax in Greece is calculated depending on the number of hotel stars or rented rooms. It can cost up to €4 per room.
It was implemented by the Greek Ministry of Tourism to help reduce the country’s debt.
13. Hungary
Tourist fees in Hungary are solely applicable in Budapest.
Travellers must pay an additional 4% every night based on the price of their room.
14. Italy
Tourist tariffs in Italy vary according to where you are. In Sicily, rates range from €1 to €3 per night.
Rome’s price runs from €3 to €7 per night depending on the type of room, however smaller cities may charge more.
15. Japan
Japan charges a departure tax. Visitors to Japan pay 1,000 yen (about €8) upon leaving the country.
According to the official tourism website, this modest fee makes “a significant difference” to the economy.
16. Malaysia
Malaysia’s tourist tax is a flat fee that applies per night of stay.
It’s not much more than €4/night.
17. New Zealand
Tourists, working holidaymakers, students, and workers in New Zealand are required to pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) upon arrival.
But Australians are exempt.
It costs $35 New Zealand dollars, which is around €21.
18. The Netherlands
The Netherlands imposes a land tourist tax and a water tourist tax.
In Amsterdam, this presently accounts for 7% of hotel room costs. It’s known as ‘toeristenbelasting’.
In 2024, it will grow to 12.5%, making it the highest tourism tax in Europe. It will apply to both cruise passengers and overnight tourists.
19. Portugal
Portugal’s modest tourist tax is paid per person per night and only applies to tourists aged 13 and up.
Approximately €2 applies in 13 of Portugal’s 308 municipalities, including Porto, Lisbon, and Faro.
You just have to pay for the first seven days of your stay.
20. Slovenia
The tourist tax in Slovenia varies according to location and hotel rating.
It’s significantly higher in major cities and resort towns, like Ljubljana and Bled, at roughly €3.
21. Spain
If you’re visiting Ibiza or Majorca, you’ll need to pay a tourist tax.
The Sustainable Tourist Tax, which applies to holiday accommodation on Spain’s Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera), applies to all holidaymakers aged 16 and up.
During peak season, the charge can be up to €4 per night.
Following last year’s election, Valencia canceled plans to establish a tourist tax in 2024.