Barcelona’s mayor, Jaume Collboni, has announced plans to increase the tourist tax for cruise passengers who visit the city for less than 12 hours. This measure is part of his ongoing efforts to address the impact of mass tourism in the Catalan capital.
Collboni, a member of the Catalan Socialist party, has introduced several initiatives since taking office to combat overtourism and improve the city’s housing situation. Among these measures is a plan to end apartment rentals to tourists by 2028, which involves revoking the licenses of the 10,101 apartments currently approved as short-term rentals. This announcement follows widespread protests across Spain against the adverse effects of the booming tourist industry on daily life.
Collboni recently stated his intention to raise the current EUR 7 (GBP 6) daily tax paid by cruise passengers. While he did not specify the amount of the proposed increase, he emphasized that studies have been commissioned to determine the appropriate rate. The goal, he noted, is not to deter cruise visitors but to ensure they contribute adequately to the city's economy, with the additional revenue earmarked for projects such as installing air conditioning in schools.
Collboni also assured that his ban on tourist flats would not dissuade visitors, pointing out that the city and its surrounding areas have sufficient hotel capacity to continue hosting major events like the Mobile World Congress.
Spain, with a population of 47 million, saw a record 85.1 million international tourists last year, a 19% increase from 2022. This surge in tourism has sparked growing anger and frustration, leading to numerous protests on the mainland, as well as in the Balearic Islands and the Canaries.