Barcelona approves phased cruise transit tax increase to €24
The higher levy will apply to same-day cruise visitors by 2030, while passengers beginning or ending voyages in the city will remain exempt.
Barcelona City Council has approved a phased increase in the tourist tax charged to transit cruise passengers, raising it from €4 to €24 by 2030. The measure covers passengers who arrive by ship, visit without an overnight stay and depart later the same day.
Turnaround passengers who embark or disembark in Barcelona are not included in the increase. The Port of Barcelona’s 2025 annual results recorded 2.3 million cruise passengers visiting the city, although that total covers the entire cruise sector rather than only same-day transit visitors.
Joaquim de Toca, a spokesperson for Welcome Ashore, said his organization’s data shows cruise passengers represent 2.4% of all visitors arriving in Barcelona. Daniel Pardo, a member of Stop Creuers, argued that the surcharge would not reduce cruise arrivals.
Pardo also estimated that exempt turnaround passengers put greater pressure on the housing market because they spend several days in the city. De Toca disputed the suggestion that most turnaround passengers use short-term tourist accommodation, saying studies reviewed by Welcome Ashore indicate that virtually all stay in hotels.