Barcelona Joins Global Wave of Higher Tourism Taxes in 2026

Himasha Dissanayake, JadeTimes Staff

H. Dissanayake is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Travel & tourism

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Source: Travel Space

As tourism rebounds worldwide, popular destinations are turning to increased taxes to address the growing pressures of overtourism and environmental strain. By 2026, cities and islands including Barcelona, Venice, Amsterdam, Kyoto, Hawaii, and Santorini will introduce new levies or expand existing ones to support infrastructure upgrades and sustainability initiatives.

The increases will affect both overnight visitors and day-trippers. Barcelona will raise its municipal tourism surcharge from €4 to €5 per night starting January 2026, with further increases planned through 2029, while Venice will expand its experimental access fee of €5–€10 for day visitors during peak season. Amsterdam will face a major jump due to a national VAT hike—from 9% to 21%—boosting effective tourism taxes to roughly 33.5%, alongside a €14.50 cruise passenger fee.

In Asia, Kyoto will introduce a new tiered hotel tax in March 2026, charging visitors based on accommodation price, ranging from ¥200 for budget stays to ¥10,000 for luxury bookings. In the Pacific, Hawaii is set to add a 0.75% “Green Fee” to its Transient Accommodations Tax, raising the total hotel tax burden to about 19% to fund climate resilience and ecosystem restoration.

Greece, too, is targeting cruise arrivals with a €20 disembarkation fee in islands such as Santorini and Mykonos during peak months, reflecting growing pressure on fragile coastal ecosystems.

Governments implementing these measures emphasize that the revenue will directly support heritage preservation, environmental protection, public services, and local infrastructure. As more destinations move toward sustainable tourism, travelers planning 2026 holidays are advised to factor in added costs—ensuring responsible travel that contributes to the long-term protection of the world’s most visited places.