A new tax for tourists in Barcelona: 'We want respectful tourism'

In Spain, protests against mass tourism continue due to its impact on rising rents. Meanwhile, in Barcelona, an additional tax is planned for tourists arriving by cruise ship. Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni announced that the tax collected from tourists who stay in the city for less than 12 hours via cruise ships will be increased. Collboni emphasized that day-trippers do not benefit the city and that they aim for a type of tourism that respects the city.

Speaking to El Pais, Collboni mentioned that cruise passengers currently pay a daily tax of 7 euros and stated, "We will propose a significant increase in the tax for cruise passengers who make short stops." Collboni added, "When cruise passengers stop for less than 12 hours, public spaces are heavily used in a way that does not benefit the city, creating a sense of occupation and saturation. We want tourism that respects the destination."

The mayor called for local projects, such as installing air conditioning in schools, to be financed not by taxpayers' money but through taxes paid by tourists. Although he did not provide details on how much the tax would be increased, Collboni noted that the proposal must be approved by the Catalan regional government.

In recent weeks, there have been large-scale protests against mass tourism in Spain's tourist cities, as well as in Mallorca and the Canary Islands, due to the rise in rents for short-term rentals causing a housing crisis. Another demonstration is planned for this evening in Palma de Mallorca.

Last month, the Barcelona City Council decided to completely ban the rental of homes to tourists until 2028.