PROPERTY SEARCH
Catalonia to double tourist tax in latest bid to manage visitor numbers
The nightly hotel rate could be raised to €15 by the end of 2025
Visitors to Spain’s Catalonia could soon see their holiday costs rise significantly, as the regional government moves to double the existing tourist tax for Barcelona and nearby cities.
The decision comes amid efforts to address the strain that increasing tourist numbers place on local infrastructure, housing and resources.
Under the new legislation, the tourist levy in Barcelona could reach as much as €15 per person per night, depending on the type of accommodation. Currently, guests at four-star hotels pay €5.70, while those in five-star hotels pay €7.50. The rest of Catalonia will also be able to increase its tax if it introduces the surcharge previously applicable only in the Catalan capital.
Tourists staying elsewhere in Catalonia, outside of Barcelona, could expect to pay between €1.20 and €6 per day, depending on their accommodation.
At least 25% of the revenue from the tax will be allocated to housing policies, helping to address the housing crisis that many locals blame on the surge in holiday rentals.
David Cid, a spokesperson for the left-wing Comuns party, defended the tax increase, stating: “A person who comes to Catalonia paying €400 or €500 for a night in a hotel can pay €7 more.”
He also pointed out that similar measures are being implemented across Europe to manage the impact of mass tourism.
The move is part of a broader strategy to combat overtourism in Spain. In July 2024, anti-tourism protests erupted in Barcelona, with residents using water pistols to spray diners in tourist-heavy areas.
In November of the same year, tens of thousands protested in the city, demanding lower housing costs as locals struggle to compete with the short-term rental market.
Overtourism in Spain
Spain, one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, saw a record-breaking 94 million visitors in 2024, with British tourists making up the largest share. While tourism generated €126 billion last year, it has also led to overcrowding, rising property prices and local resentment in places.
Barcelona is not the only city to take action. In January 2025, Málaga introduced a three-year law restricting new holiday rentals in 43 districts to curb the impact of mass tourism. Similar restrictions have been implemented in Alicante and Madrid, with Seville expected to follow.
The increasing pushback against mass tourism suggests that more Spanish cities may introduce similar measures, potentially reshaping the future of travel to the country.
Other tactics being used by regions around Spain include a Canary Islands plan to prevent new build properties from being used for tourist rental apartments until 10 years after their construction and an innovative scheme by Málaga city council to pay social media influencers to promote alternative tourist routes to visit outside the crowded city centre.
