Cruise ship crackdown hits tourist hot spot as city fast-tracks new visitor tax

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One of Europe’s most crowded tourist cities is cracking down oncruises and their passengers, with the mayor of the city pushing to fast-track a tax hike on short-stay passengers.

Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni on Wednesday said he wants cruise passengers to pay up to $9.30 (8 euros) per night, a 100% increase from the current $4.65 rate (4 euros).

The news was reported by El País, Spain’s paper of record, after Collboni appeared on Betevé, the local network.

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The tax would apply tocruise passengersdocking in Barcelona.

Barcelona’s City Council agreed last July to gradually increase the tax to $9.30 (8 euros), El País reported — and while the council agreed to raise it over the next four years, Collboni is advocating for an immediate daily increase.

General view of Barceloneta neighborhood and Somorrostro beach in Barcelona

Cruise passengers who briefly stop in Barcelona could soon face significantly higher daily taxes under the mayor’s proposal.(Pau Barrena/AFP)

“In the coming months, we will raise thetourist tax… so that it comes into force in the next few months and not in four years as we had agreed,” the mayor said, according to El País.

“I want to discourage the arrival of cruise passengers,” he also said.

Barcelona port with mountains, buildings visible

Barcelona officials are moving forward with plans to increase cruise passenger taxes as part of a broader push to curb overtourism in the city.(iStock)

“We want quality tourism, which is why we are renewing the Fira de Barcelona.We are interested in business visitors,” Collboni added.

“What wedo not want is mass tourism— and that is why we will eliminate tourist apartments in 2028.”

Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni, pictured, said he plans to seek re-election in May 2027 while advancing policies aimed at reducing overtourism in the city.(Alberto Paredes/Europa Press via Getty Images)

“My intention is to govern with a left-wing majority,” said Collboni.

“I want to turn Barcelona into the grave of the far right.”

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�s office for comment.

The move is one of several steps Barcelona has taken in itsstruggle with overtourism.

View of cruise ship docked in Barcelona port

The proposed tax hike would double the current daily rate for cruise passengers stopping in Barcelona, according to city leadership.(iStock)

In 2024, Barcelona’s city council agreed to reduce cruise terminals from seven to five in the interest of limiting cruise arrivals.

In March, Barcelonanearly doubled its visitor taxto among the highest in Europe to combat mass tourism.

An anti-tourism placard is seen during the demonstration in Barcelona a few years ago.The demonstration involved symbolically closing hotel establishments, bars and restaurants while heading toward Barceloneta, one of the neighborhoods that suffers the most from the presence of tourism.(Paco Freire/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)