As the issue of overtourism continues to plague popular travel spots, one major European city is taking decisive action by significantly increasing its tourist tax, positioning it among the highest on the continent.
Barcelona, a bustling hub in Spain renowned for its rich culture and architecture, has nearly doubled the tax for hotel guests. Overnight stays now incur a charge of $10 to $17 per person, compared to the previous $5 to $9. Similarly, the levy on holiday rentals has surged to a maximum of 12.5 euros per night, up from $7.24 to as much as $14.49, according to a report by Reuters.
This tax hike comes in response to growing concerns among residents about the overwhelming influx of tourists, which is exacerbating the city’s housing crisis by making affordable accommodations scarce for locals.
Last summer, tensions reached a boiling point as locals staged a significant protest. In a demonstration of their frustration, some resorted to spraying tourists with water guns, as previously covered by Fox News Digital.
Protesters carried banners with messages like “One more tourist, one less resident” and “Tourist Go Home,” urging a reevaluation of the city’s economic reliance on tourism.
In a light-hearted comment, Andreu Martínez, a local from Spain, mentioned that the use of squirt guns was intended to mildly irritate the tourists and draw attention to their cause.
“Barcelona has been handed to the tourists,” said Martínez. “This is a fight to give Barcelona back to its residents.”
He said his rent had risen over 30%, with apartments in his neighborhood continually being rented out for short-term vacation use instead.
The regional parliament of Catalonia said it is planning to ban all short-term rental accommodation by 2028.
Short-term rentals in Barcelona have been stagnant for years, remaining at around 10,000 since 2014, according to figures from Barcelona’s City Hall.
Barcelona city data indicates around 850,000 homes exist in Barcelona, making the 10,000 or so short-term rentals a fraction of total housing.
Italian nurse Irene Verrazzo, who traveled to the city, told Reuters that Barcelona was already very expensive. She said she would probably not visit again.
“I don’t think this added expense is fair,” she told Reuters. “They already make money from tourists spending in shops, visiting their monuments, etc.”
Barcelona hotel owners have expressed concern that the tax rise could deter too many tourists from visiting.
Manel Casals, Barcelona’s hoteliers’ group general director, told Reuters that proposals to monitor the taxes’ impact and raise them gradually instead were ignored.
“One day, they will kill the goose that lays the golden eggs,” said Casals.
Last year, 96.8 million people visited Spain — with nearly 94 million visiting in 2024, according to government data.
