Barcelona is planning to increase tourist taxes on overnight hotel stays, and cruise passenger arrivals - but the move has drawn criticism.
Top Hotel Project News – City officials in Barcelona are debating further rises in tourist taxes, as the city continues to address the challenges of over tourism, and the negative impact on the lives of city dwellers.
A public consultation will be carried out on the proposals, which will raise the overnight property tax for hotels, from 1.17% currently to a proposed 1.3%. In addition the current EUR12 per room per night maximum tariff is likely to be increased. By aiming to suppress demand, the policy is likely to increase opportunities for hotel developers and operators in other, attractive Spanish cities that either have a nearby airport, or easy public transport links.
Tourism continues to be a major source of economic activity in Spain. The country is reckoned to have welcomed over 96 million international visitors in 2025, with 16 million coming to Barcelona alone. The growth, up more than 3% on the previous year, continues to put pressure on the most popular destinations.
The city is also planning to increase charges on cruise ship passengers. Currently ships are charged EUR11 for short stay passengers offloading for a period of less than 12 hours. The aim is to increase this to EUR30 per passenger by 2030 – a rise that has drawn criticism. The World Travel & Tourism Council reckons that cruise passengers visiting Barcelona spend an average EUR225, and this economic volume could reduce should cruise liners replan their schedules, and visit other ports around the Mediterranean instead.
