Report: Cities and Countries That Require Visitors to Pay Tourist Taxes, 2024

Tourism taxes are nothing new. Numerous countries have implemented a tourist fee for several reasons. Some use it to control the number of tourists and combat over-tourism, while others impose it as a sustainability tax on every visitor. The revenue generated from these taxes is utilized for maintaining tourism facilities and preserving natural resources.

Boosting local economies by targeting tourists has been a common practice in many places around the world. Most of the taxes imposed on tourists are not significant and should not discourage them from visiting. Here is a list of destinations that will charge tourists extra fees this year, along with information on how officials plan to utilize the additional revenue.

1. Bali, Indonesia: Starting from February 14, 2024, travelers arriving in Bali, whether from international or domestic flights, will be required to pay a fee of IDR 150,000 (€8.80). This fee will be collected at special booths located at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali. The funds collected will be used for various projects aimed at preserving the environment, nature, and culture of Bali, as well as improving its overall quality.
2. Olhão, Portugal: Olhão has started charging visitors €1 a night between November and March. The tax is increased to €2 between April and October. It will not apply to children under the age of 16 and it will be capped at five nights – so a maximum of €10 – per trip. The fee is being used to minimise the impact of tourism on the Algarve town, including improving cleanliness and security, according to local authorities.
3. Faro and Vila Real de Santo António in the Algarve region, Portugal: Two of the Algarve’s 16 municipalities already charged a tourist tax: Faro (€1.5 per night up to seven nights between March and October) and Vila Real de Santo António (€1 per day up to seven days).
4. Barcelona, Spain: Since 2012, tourists visiting Barcelona have been required to pay a regional tourist tax along with an additional city-wide surcharge. Starting from April 1, 2023, Barcelona city authorities have increased the municipal fee to €2.75. Furthermore, the fee will increase again on April 1, 2024, to €3.25. This tax is applicable to visitors who stay in official tourist accommodation. The council has stated that the revenue generated from this tax will be utilized for funding the city’s infrastructure, including the improvement of roads, bus services, and escalators.
5. Valencia, Spain: Valencia, a region in Spain, has announced that it will introduce a tourist tax for travelers who stay in any type of accommodation, such as hotels, hostels, apartments, and campsites. The tax, officially called the Valencian Tax on Tourist Stays (IVET), will come into effect in 2024, although the exact date has not been announced yet. The tax will be charged to visitors based on the type of accommodation they choose, ranging from 50 cents to €2 per night for up to seven nights. Cruise ship passengers will be charged €1.50 per day. The revenue generated by the tax will be used towards the sustainable development of the region’s tourism sector. Additionally, the funds will also be used to provide more affordable housing for locals in areas that are popular with tourists.
6. Venice, Italy: From April until mid-July, visitors planning to enter Venice on peak weekends and other selected days will be required to pay a fee of €5. This fee is applicable only during peak hours (8:30 am to 4:00 pm). Visitors who enter the city after 4 pm or those who come for dinner or to attend a concert are exempt from this fee. The introduction of this day-tripper fee is aimed at reducing the number of crowds in the city, encouraging longer visits, and improving the quality of life for the residents of Venice.
7. Austria: In Austria, an overnight accommodation tax is charged, varying based on the province. For instance, in Vienna or Salzburg, an additional 3.02% is added to the hotel bill per person. The tourism levy is also known as Tourismusgesetz and Beherbergung Beiträge.
8. Belgium: The tourist tax in Belgium is also applied to accommodation, for every night you stay there. The fee is sometimes included in the room rate of the hotel but some separate the cost out and make it a supplemental charge, so you need to check your bill carefully. Antwerp and Bruges charge a rate per room. The rate in Brussels varies depending on the hotel’s size and rating. In general it’s around €7.50.
9. Bhutan: While most countries’ tourist fees are below around €20, Bhutan’s tax is sky high in comparison. The minimum daily fee for most foreigners is: $250 (€228) per person per day during high season and slightly less in low season. But it covers a lot, including accommodation, transportation in the country, a guide, food, and entry fees.
10. Bulgaria: Bulgaria applies a tourist fee on overnight stays. It’s very low and varies depending on area and hotel classification – up to around €1.50.
11. Caribbean Islands: Many Caribbean islands charge visitors a tourism-related tax, which may be added to the hotel cost or charged as a departure fee. Some of the islands that have such fees include Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the US Virgin Islands. The fees vary depending on the island, ranging from €13 in the Bahamas to €45 in Antigua and Barbuda.
12. Croatia: Croatia increased its tourist tax in 2019. However, the raised rate only applies during peak season in the summer. Visitors are charged around 10 kuna (€1.33) per person per night.
13. Czech Republic: In the Czech Republic, tourists visiting the capital city, Prague, are required to pay a small tourist fee. The fee is paid per person, per night, up to 60 nights and is less than €1. Children under 18 are exempted from the tax.
14. France: Tourists visiting France are required to pay a ‘taxe de séjour’ which is added to their hotel bill and varies depending on the city they are staying in. The purpose of this tax is to maintain the tourism infrastructure of the city. The tax rates range from €0.20 to around €4 per person, per night. In preparation for the upcoming 2024 Olympics, the tourist tax on hotel rooms has increased by 200 per cent as of January 2024. Depending on the type of accommodation, the fee for this tax ranges from €0.75 to €15 per night in popular tourist destinations like Paris and Lyon.
15. Germany: Germany has a ‘culture tax’ (‘kulturförderabgabe’) and a “bed tax” in cities such as Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Berlin. The fee is approximately 5% of the hotel bill.
16. Greece: In Greece, the tourist tax is based on the number of hotel stars or the number of rooms rented. It can be up to €4 per room. The tax was introduced by the Greek Ministry of Tourism to help reduce the country’s debt.
17. Hungary: Tourist fees in Hungary only apply to Budapest. Visitors are required to pay an additional 4% every night based on the price of their room.
18. Italy: The tourist tax in Italy varies based on the location. In Sicily, the fees range from €1 to €3 per night. Whereas, the fee in Rome ranges from €3 to €7 per night depending on the type of room. However, some smaller cities charge more.
19. Japan: In Japan, the tourist tax is in the form of a departure tax. Visitors need to pay 1,000 yen (approximately €8) as they leave the country. The official tourism website suggests that this small tax makes a significant difference to the country’s economy.
20. Malaysia: Malaysia’s tourist tax is a flat rate and applied per night. It costs around €4 per night, which is not much.
21. New Zealand: In New Zealand, visitors who are on working holidays, tourists, and some students and workers are required to pay an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) upon arrival, which costs $35 New Zealand dollars, approximately €21. However, this levy does not apply to visitors from Australia.
22. Netherlands: There are two types of tourist taxes: land tourist tax and water tourist tax. In Amsterdam, these taxes amount to 7% of the cost of a hotel room, which is called ‘toeristenbelasting’. Starting from 2024, the tax rate will increase to 12.5%, making it the highest tourist tax in Europe. This tax will apply to both overnight visitors and cruise passengers.
23. Portugal: In Portugal, a tourist tax is levied on guests who are 13 years or older and it is charged per person per night. The tax is approximately €2 and is applicable in 13 out of Portugal’s 308 municipalities, including major cities such as Porto, Lisbon, and Faro. This tax is only required to be paid for the first seven days of your stay.
24. Slovenia: In Slovenia, the tourist tax varies depending on the location and rating of the hotel. It is slightly higher in larger cities and resort towns like Ljubljana and Bled, where it is around €3.
25. Spain: If you are planning to visit Ibiza or Majorca in Spain, then you must be aware of the tourist tax that you have to pay for your stay. The Sustainable Tourist Tax applies to holiday accommodations on the Balearic Islands, including Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera and is applicable for every holidaymaker who is 16 years of age or older. During the high season, the tax can go up to €4 per night, which varies based on the type of accommodation you choose.
26. Switzerland: The tourist tax in Switzerland differs based on the location of your stay. This cost is charged per night and per person and typically amounts to €2.20. Accommodation quotes do not usually include the tourist tax, which is shown as a separate amount for clarity. Also, this tax only applies to stays that are less than 40 days.
27. United States: Most of the United States charge a hotel tax or lodging tax for travelers who rent accommodation. This tax is also known as an occupancy tax and applies to hotels, motels, and inns. Houston reportedly has the highest rate at 17% on your hotel bill.

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