Barcelona’s New Tourist Tax
In a bid to manage the influx of tourists, Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, announced plans to increase the tourist tax for cruise passengers staying in the city for less than 12 hours. This move aims to mitigate the negative impact of short-term visitors on the city.
“We are going to propose substantially increasing the tax for stopover cruise passengers,” Collboni told El Pais newspaper. The current tax stands at €7 ($7.61) per day, but Collboni did not specify the new rate. His rationale is clear: “In the case of stopover cruise passengers, there is intensive use of public space without any benefit for the city and a feeling of occupation and saturation.”
This announcement follows recent protests in Barcelona, where demonstrators, chanting “Tourists go home,” sprayed visitors with water, highlighting the local discontent with mass tourism.
Fewer, Higher-Paying Tourists Wanted
Barcelona hosted approximately 3.6 million cruise passengers last year, the highest number reported by Statista. The city is also set to ban apartment rentals to tourists by 2028 and has introduced other tourist taxes to curb the surge.
Fresh Protests in Mallorca
Meanwhile, anti-tourism activists in Mallorca, another popular Spanish holiday destination, are calling for fewer tourists but those who are willing to spend more money. Recent demonstrations in Palma de Mallorca saw around 10,000 people protesting against the excesses of mass tourism under slogans like “Enough is Enough!” and “Mallorca Is Not for Sale!”
Tourism is crucial for Mallorca, contributing to 45% of the island’s economic output. However, many locals argue that only a minority benefit from the industry, while the majority face poorly paid jobs, housing shortages, traffic jams, noise, and pollution.
The push for a visitor cap aims to address these issues and promote sustainable tourism. Activists are planning more protests to draw attention to their cause.
The Bigger Picture
Spain welcomed a record 85.1 million international tourists in 2023, underscoring the country’s popularity as a travel destination. However, the challenges posed by mass tourism are prompting authorities to implement measures to balance economic benefits with the well-being of local communities.
Both Barcelona and Mallorca are at the forefront of a broader movement in Spain to manage tourism more sustainably. By increasing tourist taxes and capping visitor numbers, these cities hope to create a more balanced and respectful relationship between tourists and locals.
Source: Travel And Tour World