Catalonia doubles tourist tax

According to the decision, the current €3.50 tax in a five-star hotel in the Catalan capital will increase to €7, while the tax will increase from €1.70 to €3.40 in a four-star hotel and from €2.25 to €4.50 in tourist apartments per night and person.

However, in Barcelona, ​​in addition to the tourist tax, a municipal tax of €4 is currently payable, but the city will be given the option to double this as well.

Outside the Catalan capital, the tax burden will be lower: €6 instead of €3 in a five-star hotel, €2.40 instead of €1.20 in a four-star hotel, while tourist apartments will be charged €2 instead of €1.

For cruise ships, if they stay in ports for less than 24 hours, the tax will increase from 3 euros to 6 euros, and if they stay longer, they will have to pay 4 euros per day instead of 2 euros.

The decision gives local governments the option to levy an additional tax on tourists, similar to Barcelona, ​​but the amount cannot exceed 4 euros.

Romero pointed out that each municipality will be able to spend this revenue on what it “needs most”, such as housing, cleaning or security policies.

The Catalan government will spend 25 percent of the revenue from the increased tourist tax on housing policy measures, to increase supply and improve access to housing for vulnerable social groups, he added.