Many countries around the world have started to implement tourist taxes as of 2025 in order to boost their economies and tackle overtourism.
Overtourism has affected many popular countries, with Spain and Italy being only two examples of countries that have had to set measures in place to combat its impacts.
In 2024, local residents in various European countries protested against the issue, and new systems were put in place. As we’ve entered the new year, it’s good to know which destinations visitors will be expected to pay a little extra.
For most places that already have a tax implementation, tourist taxes usually cost around a few pounds, but often depend on criteria such as accommodation and the season a traveller decides to go, which can cause it to be much higher.
In spring of 2024, the well-loved Italian city Venice started charging overnight visitors between €1 and €5 (£0.83 and £4.15) and day tourists a fee of €5 (£4.15) per day. However, if the trip is booked last minute, the fee is increased to €10 (£8.30).
France, the most visited country in the world, also has a tourist tax which depends on where you opt to stay. If you were to stay at somewhere like a campsite, you’re likely to pay less than one euro. However, a five-star hotel is up to €14.95 (£12.40) per night.
Austria, Belgium and Greece are some of the other countries that impose tourism tax based on accommodation.
Several cities across Spain have also raised the price of tourist tax, but it varies where you go. In Barcelona, the fee is €4 (£3.32) per night while in the Balearic Islands the fee starts from €1 (£0.83), also per night.
As of this year, the EU will be implementing a new tourist visa. Non-EU citizens travelling from outside the Schengen Zone will need to fill out a €7 (£5.81) application to enter the country.
Paris has a new set of rules for their tourist taxes this year where now as well as a tourist tax, a regional tax will be charged also based on your type of accommodation. Taxes in Barcelona and Amsterdam will also both be increasing.
For any Brits planning to travel further across the globe, those that have Thailand on their bucket list for 2025 should know that it the travel tax for the middle of the year is approved, it will cost around £6.87 for those flying to the sunny destination.
However, it’s not just international places Brits should look out for as fees are soon to be implemented in the UK. Scottish local authorities will be able to introduce a tourist tax from the 2026/27 financial year after the Scottish Parliament passed the Vistor Levy Act 2024, last year.
There are also proposals for a visitor levy in Wales, paid by visitors and collected by accomodation providers. While in the England, the government and local councils do not have the power to introduce a tourist tax, cities including Manchester and Liverpool have established accomodation BID plans where both the cities expect that a levy paid in respect of accomodation will improve the hospitality sector and bring more attraction.
