Catalonia Doubles Tourist Tax, Making Travel to Barcelona Pricier

Catalonia is set to double its tourist tax in 2025 as a measure to curb overtourism in Barcelona. 

Catalan News reported last week that the regional government signed a deal allowing Catalonia to raise its tourist tax. In Barcelona, it could reach a maximum of 15 euros ($16 USD) per person per night.

Under the new structure, the fee ranges based on accommodations, with campsite visitors paying 2 euros ($2 USD) per person per night, up to 7 euros ($7.50 USD) for guests staying in 5-star hotels.

Currently, Barcelona also charges a municipal fee of 4 euros ($4 USD). Last November, the Catalan government raised the cap on Barcelona’s tourist tax cap to 8 euros ($8.50 USD) per night, according to Catalan News.

Added together, travelers visiting the popular Spanish hot spot could pay a combined tourist tax of up to 15 euros ($16 USD) per person per night. 

Cruise passengers who spend less than 24 hours in the city will also have to pay a higher Catalonia tourist tax: That fee is also set to double, increasing from 3 to 6 euros ($3 to $6.50 USD) per person. This is in addition to the tourist tax Barcelona levies on cruise passengers.

Catalonia’s Government Defends Tourist Tax Increase

Parliamentary spokesperson David Cid defended the increase, telling radio station Cadena Ser, “a person who comes to Catalonia paying 400 or 500 [euros] for a night in a hotel can pay 7 [euros] more.”

Under the new deal, 25% of the new tax will fund initiatives to assist vulnerable groups secure affordable housing.

In 2024, Catalonia collected approximately 90 million euros ($97 million USD) from its tourist tax. In 2025, that could rise to 200 million euros ($215 million USD) a year, based on the new rate and projected tourist numbers.

The tourist tax increase has provoked protests from the tourism sector in Barcelona. According to MSN, The Barcelona Hotels Guild rejected the tax increase in a statement, likening the government’s actions as “continuous fiscal asphyxiation” on the sector. 

“If this measure is applied, Barcelona will become one of the cities in Europe with the highest tourist tax in all hotel categories, above cities like Paris and Rome, whose average hotel prices are higher than those of Barcelona,” said a guild representative.

The Costa Brava-Pirineu de Girona Association of Tourist Apartments (ATA) also criticized the decision, raising concerns that it would make its 10,000+ properties less appealing to tourists.  

“When visitors travel [as families], these taxes need to be multiplied by four or five people,” Esther Torrent, president of the association, said to the Catalan News Agency (ACN).