Barcelona cruise tax proposal faces WTTC opposition

Barcelona city council has proposed raising the tax on cruise passengers. The plan would increase the levy from the current €6 per passenger to as much as €30, with an initial step to €12, and also includes a proposal to double the overnight cruise passenger tax from €4 to €8 per night.

The World Travel & Tourism Council warned the increase could hurt the city’s competitiveness. WTTC President Gloria Guevara said additional costs would likely reduce the overall economic contribution of cruise tourists and could lead to job losses in local service sectors.

The controversy comes as the new Royal Caribbean ship Legend of the Seas, capable of carrying nearly 10,000 people, is scheduled to start calling at Barcelona in July. Cruise visitors add about €413 million annually to Catalonia’s GDP, roughly 4 % of total tourism revenue.