Travel
Tourist taxes: All the countries that you will be required to pay for in 2023
This year, you will have to pay an entrance fee to all of these places.
Travel has recovered well since the pandemic. Tourist destinations that were crippled and closed by restrictions are now thriving.
Overtourism is once again a problem in some popular destinations.
Some have resorted to implementing the ‘tourist taxes’ in 2022, while others plan to introduce them this year.
You’ve probably paid a tourist tax before if you’ve traveled abroad. You may not have noticed, as it is often included in airline tickets or hotel taxes.
Here’s everything you need know about the countries that you must pay to enter.
Barcelona will increase its tourist tax by 2023
Barcelona’s tourist tax The city authorities have announced that the amount of money charged for parking will increase over the next two-year period.
Since 2012, visitors in the Catalan capital must pay both a regional tourist tax as well as an additional city-wide surcharge.
On April 1, city authorities increased the municipal fee from EUR 2.75 to EUR 2.75.
The fee will increase to EUR3.25 next year, on 1 April 2024.
Visitors staying in official tourist accommodation are subject to the tax.
The council said that the proceeds will be used to fund city infrastructure, such as improvements to roads, bus service, and escalators.
Valencia will introduce a tourist tax by 2023
Valencia The government has announced that it will introduce a tax on tourists staying in any type of accommodation in the area, including hotels and hostels.
It will be implemented by the end of 2023, or in early 2024.
Depending on the accommodation chosen, visitors will pay between 50 cents to EUR2 per night for up to 7 nights.
Authorities claim that the fee will be used to develop the tourism industry in the region. The proceeds will also be used to build more affordable housing in tourist hotspots for locals.
Olhao in Portugal will introduce a tourism tax in 2023
Olhao, a Portuguese The popular tourist fishing town will begin charging EUR2 per night for visitors between April and October.
Between November and March, the tax will be reduced from EUR1 to EUR1. The tax will not be applicable to children under 16 years old and will be limited to five nights per trip – a maximum of EUR10
Local authorities say that the fee will be used for reducing the impact of tourism on the Algarve town. This includes improving cleanliness and security.
Two of the 16 municipalities in the Algarve already charge a tourist fee: Faro (EUR1.5 for up to 7 nights between March and Oct) and Vila Real de Santo Antonio (1 EUR per day for up to 7 days).
Thailand could introduce a fee for tourists in 2023
Thailand is considering introducing a 300 Baht tourist fee (EUR8). It was originally expected to come into effect at the end 2022, but a lack clarity on how to implement it has led to delays.
You can also find out more about ThailandThe fee is still in the balance as the upcoming elections approach.
The governor of Thailand’s Tourism Authority told Reuters in 2013 that a portion of the fee would “be used to take good care of tourists”, as their health insurance had not always covered them.
The money will also be used to finance the further development of tourist attractions such as the Grand Palace, Bangkok.
Venice will introduce a fee for tourists in 2023 or 2020
Venice Soon, tourists will be charged for their visit. The fee was originally scheduled for January 2023 and then the summer of 2023, but has been repeatedly postponed. It is unclear when the fee will come into effect, but it does not look likely that it will happen this year.
The Italian newspaper La Stampa reported in August last year that several measures had been proposed to control the number of tourists, including an online booking system. But there must be more effort to curb the numbers, including a fee for entry to the city.
The proposed levy could range between EUR3 and EUR10 depending on whether it is low or high season.
In 2024, the EU will introduce a tourist visa
From 2024, non EU citizens, such as Americans, Australians and Brits, and other travellers outside the Schengen Zone, will be required to obtain a visa. Fill out the EUR7 application Get in.
The fee is waived for those under 18 and over 70.
The scheme was supposed be implemented by November 2023, but has faced difficulties. delays Referring to the new Entry/Exit System of the EU (EES).
Here are the countries that already charge a fee for tourists to enter.
Many countries have already implemented a tourist tax for a variety reasons.
Some are concerned with reducing the number of tourists. Overtourism.
Others see it as a kind of sustainability tax on every visitor. These taxes are used to maintain tourism facilities and protect natural resources.
Austria
You can also find out more about the following: Austria You pay an overnight accommodation fee, which is different depending on where you are. In Vienna and Salzburg, you will pay an additional 3.02 percent on the hotel bill for each person.
The tourism levy is also known as Tourismusgesetz and Berherbergungsbeitrage.
Belgium
The tourist tax is a tax on tourists. Belgium It also applies to the accommodation for each night you stay.
Some hotels include the fee in the room price, but others separate it out as a supplemental cost. You should check your bill carefully.
Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent charge a per-room rate. The rate in Brussels depends on the size and rating of the hotel.
In general, it’s about EUR7.50.
Bhutan
Bhutan’s tourist tax is astronomical in comparison to other countries. Most countries charge less than EUR20 for a single day’s visit.
The minimum daily rate for most foreigners during high season is $250 (EUR228), and slightly less during low season.
It covers a lot of things, including food, entry fees, accommodation, transportation within the country, and a guide.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria A tourist fee is charged for overnight stays.
It is very low, and depends on the area and hotel class – up to about EUR1.50.
Caribbean Islands
Most Caribbean islands charge a departure or hotel fee, as well as a tourist tax.
Antigua and Barbuda Aruba Bahamas Barbados Bermuda Bonaire British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Dominica Dominican RepublicGrenada, Haiti and the US Virgin Islands charge a fee to visitors.
The fees range from EUR13 for the Bahamas up to EUR45 for Antigua and Barbuda.
Croatia
Croatia In 2019, the government of Japan increased its tourist tax. The rate is only increased during the summer peak season.
Visitors pay about 10 kuna per person per night (EUR1.33).
Czech Republic
In the Czech Republic, you only have to pay a fee for tourists when visiting Prague, the capital.
The tax is very low (under EUR1), and paid per person per night up to 60 nights. Children under 18 are exempt from the tax.
France
There is a “taxe du séjour” to be paid in France. This is charged to your hotel bill, and it varies according to the city.
The rates range between EUR0.20 and EUR4 per person per night.
Tourist hotspots such as Paris and Lyon use this money to maintain their tourism infrastructure.
Germany
In cities like Frankfurt, Hamburg and Berlin, there is a “bedtax” (a bettensteuer) and a “culturetax” (a cultureforderabgabe).
The fee is approximately 5 percent of your hotel bill.
Greece
The tourist tax is a tax on tourists. Greece The price is determined by the number of stars in the hotel or rooms that you rent. It can range from EUR4 per bedroom to EUR4 per suite.
The Greek Ministry of Tourism introduced it to help reduce the country’s debt.
Hungary
Tourist fees in Hungary are only applicable in Budapest.
Travelers will have to pay 4 percent more per night on top of the room price.
Indonesia
Tourist taxes Indonesia Only apply in Bali
In 2019, a new Indonesian law requires that visitors from abroad pay a fee of around EUR9.
The revenue from the tax is reportedly used to support programmes that preserve the environment and Balinese cultural heritage.
Italy
The tourist tax in Italy is determined by where you are. Venice could introduce its own tax by summer 2022.
Rome charges between EUR3 and EUR7 per night, depending on the type, but smaller cities charge even more.
Japan
You can also find out more about the following: Japan It comes in the form a departure tax. Visitors to Japan are required to pay 1,000 yen, or around EUR 8, as they depart the country.
The official tourism website claims that this small tax “makes a significant difference” in the economy.
Malaysia
The tourist tax in Malaysia is a flat-rate and charged per night.
It’s only about EUR4 per night.
New Zealand
When they arrive, many tourists, working holidaymakers, and some students and employees coming to New Zealand are required to pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy.
Australians are exempt.
It’s 35 New Zealand dollars, which is about 21 euros.
The Netherlands
The Netherlands has both a land and water tourist tax.
This is equivalent to 7% of the price of a hotel in Amsterdam. It’s called toeristenbelasting.
Portugal
Portugal’s low-cost tourist tax is charged per night and per person, and only applies to guests aged 13 or older.
Around EUR2 is the current rate in 13 of Portugal’s 308 municipalities, including Porto, Lisbon, and Faro.
You can only pay for the first seven days.
Slovenia
The tourist tax in Slovenia is based on the location and hotel rating.
Ljubljana, Bled and other resort towns have slightly higher prices – around EUR3.
Spain
You’ll need to pay a tourist fee if you’re going to Ibiza or Majorca.
The Sustainable Tourist Tax is a tax on holiday accommodation that applies to all types of sustainable tourism. SpainThe Balearic Islands (Mallorca Menorca Ibiza Formentera) also applies to all holidaymakers aged 16 and over.
During high season, this tax can be as high as EUR4 per night.
Switzerland
The tourist tax in Switzerland is different depending on where you are. The cost per night is approximately EUR2.20.
The tourist tax is usually not included in the price of accommodation. It’s listed separately, making it easier to track.
It only applies to stays of less than 40 days.
USA
A hotel tax or lodging taxes for travellers In the majority of the United States, there is a tax on renting accommodation. Also known as an occupancy tax.
Fees are charged by hotels, motels, and inns. Houston has the highest rate, with a tax of 17 percent on your hotel bill.
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Tourists have been caught smuggling all kinds of stolen souvenirs home from holidays, from artefacts picked up in Pompeii to sand from Italy’s famous pink beach on the island of Sardinia.
The Belgian city of Bruges is the latest victim of keepsake crime, but the item visitors have taken a fancy to is unexpected.
The city council has reported the theft of dozens of cobblestones from the city centre, and suspects tourists are the culprits.
Tourists suspected of pilfering Bruges’ cobblestones
Bruges’ cobblestones are increasingly being pilfered from well-known spots in the UNESCO-designated historic centre, public property councillor Franky Demon reported this week.
“At iconic locations such as Minnewater, Vismarkt, Markt and Gruuthusemuseum, it is estimated that 50 to 70 pieces of cobblestone disappear every month. And that number could be even higher,” Demon told press.
“The phenomenon increases significantly, especially during busy tourist periods such as spring and summer,” he added.
For this reason, authorities suspect visitors are pocketing the stone as souvenirs.
‘Leave that cobblestone where it belongs’
As well as damaging a valuable part of the city’s heritage, the stolen stones have created safety issues.
The gaps from removed stones present trip hazards for pedestrians – and are costly to repair.
“It’s unfortunate that our employees constantly have to go out to fix potholes and loose stones. This causes a lot of additional work and costs: about 200 euros per square metre of reconstruction,” explained Demon.
The councillor urged visitors to respect the historical environment of Bruges.
“We simply ask for respect. Anyone walking through Bruges crosses centuries of history. Leave that cobblestone where it belongs,” he said.
Bruges’ cobblestones are apparently not the only sought-after street souvenir.
Along the famous Paris-Roubaix cycling route, tourists are known to pilfer parts of the pavement.
While Rome’s iconic ‘sampietrini’ – cobblestones made of solidified lava – have also disappeared into suitcases over the years.
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Travel
‘Inequality and infinite growth’: Canary Islands anti-tourism protests reignite amid record arrivals
This weekend, residents of Spain’s Canary Islands are coming out in force to protest against mass tourism.
People on the archipelago have been growing increasingly vocal about its struggles with visitor numbers.
Last year, locals held multiple protests to highlight overtourism’s strain on local infrastructure and housing availability. They look set to continue again this summer as residents say little has been done to tackle the problem.
Protests planned across Spain against overtourism
On Sunday, 18 May, residents of the Canary Islands will take to the streets to join protests organised by campaign group Canarias tiene un límite (The Canary Islands have a limit).
Demonstrations will be held on all the islands of the archipelago as well as in several cities across Spain.
Protests will begin at 11 am on the seven main Canary Islands – El Hierro, La Palma, La gomera, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura – and at 12pm on mainland cities including Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia.
Residents in the German capital of Berlin are also planning to take to the streets in solidarity.
Why are residents of the Canary Islands protesting?
The organisers say they are protesting to oppose the current economic model “based on overtourism, speculation, inequality and the infinite growth on very limited land”.
Instead, they want a transition to a people-centred, environmentally responsible model that respects the archipelago’s ecological and social needs.
Specifically, they are calling for a halt to destructive hotel projects across the islands and the building of a motor circuit on Tenerife; a moratorium on new tourist developments; guaranteed access for residents to healthcare and housing; and a functional ecological tourist tax.
The group also wants the immediate introduction of measures to curb marine pollution and the creation of an environmental restoration law.
Canary Islands receive record number of tourists in March
Earlier this month, authorities announced that the Canary Islands received more than 1.55 million foreign visitors in March, up 0.9 per cent on the record set in the same month last year.
The figures were released by the Canary Islands National Statistics Institute (INE), which added that the total number of international tourists for the first quarter of 2025 was 4.36 million, an increase of 2.1 per cent year-on-year.
The tourist influx comes despite dozens of protests staged last year by Canary Island residents against mass tourism.
Similar demonstrations have already taken place this year. Over Easter, around 80,000 hospitality workers in Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro walked out in a dispute with unions over pay.
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A 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the Greek island of Crete early this morning, Wednesday 14 May.
Authorities issued a tsunami alert in the area shortly after the tremor, which was felt as far away as Israel, Syria and Egypt.
Tourists are being warned to stay away from coastal areas in the popular holiday spot.
Here is the latest travel information from the local government.
Tourists in Crete urged to move away from coastlines
The earthquake was at a depth of 35 kilometres with its epicentre near the islands of Kasos and Karpathos in the Aegean Sea.
Greece’s Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection issued a precautionary tsunami warning for the area, including the east coast of Crete and the island of Rhodes.
Authorities urged residents and tourists on the island to keep away from the coastline and move to higher ground.
“A magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurred 48km SE of Kasos. Risk of possible Tsunami in your area,” the Ministry posted on its X account this morning. The magnitude was later updated to 6.0.
“Move away from the coast immediately. Follow the instructions of Local Authorities.”
Samaria Gorge, one of Crete’s most popular hiking routes, is temporarily closed as officials check for any damage done to the route.
“The Natural Environment and Climate Change Organisation announces that due to the earthquake that occurred today south of Kasos, the gorge will remain closed to visitors in order to check the route for possible rockfalls,” authorities said. “A further announcement will be made late this afternoon.”
Crete earthquake: Is it safe to travel and am I entitled to compensation?
Foreign governments have not issued travel advisories as yet, so it is currently still considered safe to visit Greece and its islands.
This also means that, should you choose not to go ahead with your trip, you are unlikely to receive compensation.
Depending on your travel insurance policy, you may be able to receive a refund for some or all of your trip if it includes compensation for cancellations due to natural disasters. Check with your provider and read your terms and conditions carefully.
There have been no reports so far of injuries or major damage from the earthquake, but authorities are monitoring the situation closely and have warned people should remain vigilant.
If you are on holiday in or about to travel to Crete, Kasos or Karpathos, make sure you stay up to date with the latest information.
Crete and its surrounding region are considered one of Europe’s most seismically active zones.
In October 2021, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake shook the island just weeks after another tremor killed one person and injured several others.
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