Tourist tax destinations as Tenerife threatens to charge

Tenerife might be one of Spain’s leading tourist destinations but the Canary Island has hit the headlines for anti-tourism anger recently.

Protests have erupted on the island with graffiti warning tourists to ‘go home’ as residents complain of rising prices and overtourism.

Tourists have now been warned they may have to pay a tourist tax in new plans to lower visitor numbers on the island.

It’s thought that the tax will be introduced from January 2025 and will charge tourists to visit specific attractions rather than the island as a whole.

But which other top destinations have tourist taxes?

Spain

Barcelona

Tourists visiting Barcelona have to pay a tourist tax, which increased in April 2024. Tourists now need to pay 3.25 euros (£2.75) per night.

Catalonia

Tourists have to pay a tourist tax to visit the wider Catalonia area with charges varying depending on the type of accommodation.

Balearic Islands

Tourists have to pay a tax to visit the Balearic islands with charges varying depending on the type of accommodation and the time of year.

Italy

Many cities in Italy charge a tourist tax which is typically added onto the hotel bill as a nightly fee. Venice recently started charging daytrippers a five euro fee (£4.23) to visit the city in a controversial new plan to limit visitor numbers.

Portugal

Portugal charges a tourist tax fee in several top destinations including Lisbon and Porto. It’s two euros (£1.69) per night.

The Netherlands

Amsterdam has one of the world’s most expensive tourist taxes with tourists paying 12.5 percent of the cost of their accommodation in a tax.

France

Tourist tax varies in France and is charged per night. It varies based on the type of accommodation. Paris has hiked its tourist tax ahead of the Summer Olympics with the highest fee for visitors who stay at palace accommodation.

Germany

Germany’s tourist tax varies across cities and destinations. It’s 7.5 percent of the cost of accommodation in Berlin and Cologne.

Greece

Greece has introduced a climate crisis resilience fee which varies depending on the type of accommodation and the time of year.