Barcelona will raise tourist taxes for cruise passengers staying less than 12 hours.
- Mayor Jaume Collboni aims to address mass tourism’s impact on the city.
- The increase is part of a strategy to redirect tourism revenue into local projects.
- The decision aligns with broader European efforts to manage congested tourist areas.
- Barcelona hosts over 1,100 cruise ships annually, highlighting the issue’s urgency.
Barcelona has announced a significant amendment to its tourism strategy by raising the tax levied on cruise passengers who visit the city for under 12 hours. This initiative reflects the government’s determination to combat the adverse effects of mass tourism.
Jaume Collboni, the city’s mayor and a prominent figure in the Catalan Socialist party, conveyed to El Páis his intent to dramatically increase the £6-a-day tax cruise passengers currently pay. This decision underscores the importance of ensuring that transient tourism contributes meaningfully to the city’s economy.
Collboni articulated that despite the city’s openness to tourists, the growing impact of mass tourism necessitates intervention. He stated, “Barcelona is a city that’s open to visitors and tourism is an important sector of its economy. That said, I’m determined to tackle the consequences that mass tourism is having for the city. [We’re going to] substantially raise the tax for people on cruise stopovers.”
The mayor emphasised the burdens posed by short-duration cruise visitors, noting that these tourists often occupy public spaces intensively without benefiting the local economy proportionally. Collboni remarked on the resultant ‘feeling of occupation and saturation,’ highlighting the need for a tourism model that respects Barcelona’s integrity as a destination.
In context, over 1,100 cruise ships are scheduled to call at Barcelona’s port this year, with congestion peaking during summer when up to five ships can dock daily. This adjustment comes amid ongoing protests by anti-tourism activists in cities like Barcelona, reflecting wider discontent with the travel industry’s impact, particularly on housing and pollution.
This policy move also aligns with measures adopted by other major cities such as Amsterdam, which plans to relocate its cruise terminal from the city centre. Such actions illustrate a concerted effort across Europe to manage tourism’s challenges.
Barcelona’s tax increase for cruise tourists is a decisive step towards sustainable tourism management in the city.
