Barcelona has many virtues and attracts millions of tourists from all over the world every year. In order to maintain its infrastructure and continue building, the Catalan capital has introduced a city tourist tax.
How much is the Barcelona tourist tax?
Prices and regulations of the tourist tax in Barcelona
The tourist fee in Barcelona was introduced in 2012 to help the city fund local construction projects. The city council has set a scale depending on the type of tourist accommodation you choose. To give you an idea, the tourist tax is 5€ per person per day, depending on the type of establishment and location. Only people over 17 years of age are subject to this tax, and only during the first 7 days of their stay.
How much is collected in taxes?
In 2014 more than 40 million euros were collected with the Barcelona tourist tax. Tourism is a very important sector in Spain. Especially in Barcelona, which attracts many tourists. Barcelona is a very popular destination, and the tax, introduced in 2012, has raised more than 82 million euros.
Who has to pay the Barcelona tourist tax and when?
Tourists and Spanish people on holiday in Catalonia pay the tax in the same way as foreign tourists. Renters pay the tax on arrival, when they hand over the keys.
The tax affects the following types of accommodation:
- Hotels.
- Tourist rental.
- Campsites.
- Rural houses.
- Youth hostels.
What is the objective of the city tourist tax in Barcelona?
To help to idealize and restore the city
The main purpose of this tax is to support establishments that welcome tourists from all over the world. The money raised from the tax is used to improve Barcelona’s tourist areas. This benefits both, the city’s residents and tourists during their summer stay. It provides financial support to the elected representative who wishes to develop new real estate structures to welcome future tourists. Barcelona is a very attractive city, but some areas still lack sufficient infrastructure.
The tax will make it possible to :
- Rehabilitate the city’s heritage.
- Compensate for the summer nuisance suffered by the residents of certain neighborhoods.
- Compensate for the additional costs of municipal services in terms of cleaning and security.
- Improve tourist facilities.
Control of the supply of tourist accommodation
In Catalonia, a private individual renting a room on an Airbnb website has had to pay a tax since 2015. This regulation was introduced to regulate the supply of tourist accommodation in this region of Spain, one of the most touristic. Owners must pay €0.65 per night for accommodation located in the city of Barcelona. Those located outside the city will pay a tax of €0.45. In addition, rentals will be limited to 2 rooms and 4 months per year.
Could this tax be extended to other Spanish regions?
Opinions differ from region to region and from political party to political party. There is a lot of disagreement and controversy at local level on this issue. In Andalusia, the Hotel Federation is strongly opposed to the tax, considering that its introduction will considerably reduce tourism. On the other hand, the Valencian Community and other regions are willing to introduce the tax.
Some believe that the tax represents a godsend to improve and develop tourist facilities; others believe that the tax risks slowing down tourism.
In Spain, only 2 regions have a tourist tax, Catalonia and the Balearic Islands. Granada, Malaga and Seville, as well as other Spanish cities with a strong tourist industry, would also like to introduce the tax. Many European cities, such as Paris, Venice and Florence, have been introducing the tourist tax for years.