Barcelona advances higher tax for short cruise visits
Passengers visiting for less than 12 hours would pay €24 per day from next April, subject to a 30-day public consultation.
Barcelona City Council has approved a proposal to increase the daily tax on cruise passengers visiting the city for less than 12 hours. The charge would rise from €5 to €24 next April, subject to a 30-day public consultation.
The rate is planned to increase again to €30 per day by 2030. The council expects the measure to generate an additional €24 million a year by then.
Deputy Mayor for Economy Jordi Valls said the measure was intended to put fiscal pressure on tourism while freezing taxes on families. He also said it aimed to compensate for the effects of visitors in some neighborhoods and discourage cruise passengers.
Cruise Lines International Association called the increase disproportionate and urged that tourism policies be transparent and tied to measurable benefits for local communities.
Around four million cruise passenger movements passed through Barcelona in 2025 aboard just under 900 vessels. Separately, the council voted to cap the tourist tax for hotel guests at €4 per night. The current total charge can reach €7.50 per night for top-tier hotels.