Barcelona hikes cruise passenger tax to €30 per visitor

Barcelona’s municipal government has approved a plan to raise the tax on cruise passengers from the current €11 to roughly €30 per guest for ships that stop for less than 12 hours. The increase, which combines a €24 statutory levy with additional local fees, is expected to become law later this year or by early 2027. The measure is part of a broader strategy to curb overtourism, aiming to cut the city’s cruise arrivals by about 500,000 passengers each season and reduce the number of active terminals from seven to five.

The city receives around four million cruise passengers annually, and officials say the higher charge will make short‑haul visits less attractive to cruise lines. The tax will be passed on to travelers through cruise fares. Alongside the cruise tax, Barcelona is also raising hotel and short‑term‑rental taxes and plans to revoke 10,000 short‑term rental licences by 2028.