Barcelona raises cruise day‑trip tax to €30 per passenger

Barcelona’s city council voted to increase the levy on cruise passengers who disembark for less than 12 hours, raising the combined municipal and regional charge from the current €11 to €30 per person per day. The higher fee is intended to deter short‑stay cruise tourism, which accounts for about 2.5 % of off‑season visitors and up to 7.5 % during peak months, with an average stay of 5.7 hours. The measure applies only to day‑trip cruise ships; vessels that start or end their itineraries in Barcelona are exempt.

The proposal, backed by the left‑wing Barcelona en Comú, the pro‑independence Esquerra Republicana and the governing Socialist Party of Catalonia, still requires approval from the Catalan parliament, with a vote slated for 2 July. Opposition parties – the People’s Party, Vox and Junts – argue for a cap on ship numbers rather than a tax hike. The tax increase is part of a broader strategy that includes reducing the number of cruise terminals from seven to five and raising other tourist taxes in recent years.

If enacted, the new levy is expected to take effect in late autumn 2026 or early 2027, aiming to curb overtourism while capturing more value from the cruise sector.