Barcelona’s Initiative Against Overtourism: Cruise Passenger Tax Increase

Barcelona, a bustling tourist hub in Europe, is implementing measures against the impact of cruise tourism. The city aims to expedite the increase in taxes for short-stay cruise passengers. Barcelona’s mayor, Jaume Collboni, proposed a significant raise from the current rate of $4.65 (4 euros) per night to $9.30 (8 euros) per night, as reported by El País after his appearance on Betevé.

The proposed tax hike targets cruise passengers who dock briefly in Barcelona. Although the city council had agreed last July to increase the tax gradually over four years, Collboni is pushing for an immediate implementation. This could mean cruise passengers will soon encounter considerably higher daily taxes.

“In the coming months, we will raise the tourist tax … so that it comes into force in the next few months and not in four years as we had agreed,” said Collboni.

Collboni aims to reduce the number of cruise passengers who only stop in the city without starting or ending their journeys there. His ambition is to see cruise stopovers reduced to zero.

“Tourism must serve the city, not the other way around,” he further mentioned, emphasizing the need for quality tourism. Part of the strategy includes renovating Fira de Barcelona to attract business visitors.

Barcelona officials are not just focusing on cruise passengers, as they plan to eliminate tourist apartments by 2028. Collboni, who intends to run for re-election in May 2027, aims to lead with a left-wing majority advocating for policies that limit mass tourism.

Recently, Barcelona nearly doubled its hotel tax, escalating the expenses for visitors and making these among the highest in Europe. Cruise terminals in the city are also being reduced from seven to five by 2024, further curbing arrivals. These decisions are part of a larger strategy against overtourism.

Efforts to combat mass tourism have also included public demonstrations against the presence of tourists. Placards symbolically closed hotels, bars, and restaurants in protest, particularly in areas like Barceloneta, which suffer from high tourist traffic.