The cities introducing tourist taxes and how much they cost | World | News

Cities across Europe are introducing or increasing taxes on tourists in a bid to tackle overtourism. International tourism is on track to return to pre-pandemic levels this year.

At the end of 2023, levels were at 88 percent of those seen before Covid, with an estimated 1.3 billion arrivals, according to the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer.

But popular hotspots, including in the UK, have been asking visitors to pay a tourist tax, typically though not exclusively added to the cost of accommodation.

Funds raised go towards addressing damage caused by overtourism as well as helping to cover the cost of local infrastructure. In Europe, at least 10 cities either want visitors to pay or are considering it, including Paris, Venice and Barcelona.

Below Express.co.uk takes a look at the European destinations which to date have introduced a tourist tax.

Athens

Greece has a climate crisis resilience fee for tourists, which replaced a previous hotel tax.

Charges range from £1.30 (€1.50) to £8.60 (€10), depending on where you stay and the time of year. The fee is capped at £3.45 (€4) during the low season.

Barcelona

Visitors to the city have to pay a regional tourist tax and a city-wide surcharge. The regional tax varies depending on the kind of accommodation you stay in. For four-star hotels it is £1.46 (€1.70), for rented accommodation it is £1.93 (€2.25) and for five-star or luxury hotels it is £3 (€3.50).

Cruise passengers spending less than 12 hours in the city pay £2.57 (€3) to the region, with those spending more than 12 hours paying £1.71 (€2). From April this year, the city tax increased to £2.79 (€3.25).

Berlin

Private travellers have been paying an overnight tax in Berlin since January 2014. Tourists in the German capital have to pay five percent of their room price, excluding VAT and service fees.

Budapest

Travellers to the Hungarian capital have to pay an extra four percent every night based on the price of their room.

Dubrovnik

Usually, visitors must pay £2.27 (€2.65) per person, per night from April to September, however, the fee has been temporarily cut to £1.59 (€1.86) for the rest of this year.

Lisbon

Tourists pay £1.71 (€2) per person for each night they stay, although the fee is capped at a maximum of seven nights.

Manchester

Visitors have to pay £1 per room, per night at 73 hotels, with the funds raised ploughed into improvements to draw more tourists.

Paris

Different amounts are charged according to the kind of accommodation. The highest fee is £12.82 (€14.95) for tourists staying in a palace. Those staying at a campsite classed one or two stars are charged 56p (€0.65). A three star hotel incurs a £4.46 (€5.20) charge.

Prague

Overnight guests have to pay £1.73 (€2.02) per person per night. The flat fee applies to the first 60 days.

Venice

Day tourists have to pay a £4.29 (€5) entry fee to enter the city between 8.30am and 4pm.

People staying overnight in Venice are charged a fee between 86p (€1) to £4.29 (€5) for the first five consecutive nights.