Barcelona plans to impose a tourist tax of up to 15 euros ($17.70) per night, making it one of the highest in Europe, as part of efforts to curb visitor numbers and contribute to funding affordable housing. Authorities in Catalonia face growing protests from residents over the huge influx of tourists, who they say drive up housing costs by increasing short-term holiday rentals. The Catalan regional parliament has passed a law doubling the tax on guests in holiday homes to a maximum of 12.50 euros per night, up from 6.25 euros, preceding a previously announced plan to ban all short-term rentals by 2028. Hotel guests, meanwhile, will pay between 10 and 15 euros per night, up from a range of 5 to 7.50 euros depending on the hotel category, starting in April. A two-night stay for two people in a four-star hotel, which constitutes about half of Barcelona's hotels, could incur an additional 45.60 euros, as local authorities can charge up to 11.40 euros per night per person. Guests in five-star hotels could face fees of up to 15 euros per night, while cruise ship passengers will continue to pay around 6 euros. The law stipulates that a quarter of the revenue generated will go toward addressing the city's housing crisis. Irene Verrazzo, a 33-year-old Italian nurse, said Barcelona is already an expensive city and she doubts she will return. She added: "I don't think this additional cost is fair, as they already make money from tourists spending in shops, visiting attractions, and so on." Ivan Leo, a 21-year-old student and resident of the city, said the high tax is unlikely to solve the housing crisis, but the increase seems reasonable. Hotel owners fear that raising the tax will deter a large number of the 15.8 million tourists who visit Barcelona annually. The city is ranked among the top four in the world for hosting conferences, and attendees will not be exempt from this tax. The director general of the Barcelona Hoteliers' Association, Manel Casals, said proposals to gradually increase the tax to monitor its impact were ignored. He added: "A day will come when the main source of income is wiped out."
