SPAIN’S favourite tourist destination has delayed its plan to hike its tourist tax on visitors.
The proposed tax, which could cost visitors â¬15 a day (£12.74), has been delayed to October by the regional government over fears around legal challenges.
The bay of Cala Sa Boadella Bay, Costa Brava, is one of the One of the irresistible cliff top views in Catalonia
Brits swilling sangria in Barcelona are becoming increasingly controversial
Thousands took to the streets of central Barcelona last month to demand lower housing costsBritish sangria swiggers can breathe a sigh of relief as the move, which was originally planned to come into force in Catalonia, Spain, this May has been delayed.
Catalonia, which is home to tourist hotspot Barcelona, proposed the tax in the wake of widespread protests which erupted last summer in opposition to over-tourism.
The region is the most popular tourist destination in the country, and its capital, Barcelona, is British holidaymakers’ favourite European city destination.
Rather than whacking up the tax, which currently stands between â¬6-11, Catalonia’s government delayed the move at the last minute yesterday to pursue parliamentary approval.
Currently, the severity of the levy is calculated according to how luxurious tourist lodgings are.
Even cruise ship passengers can’t escape the charge, which is calibrated in line with the hotel star system.
For example, at present, Barcelona, the regions iconic capital, charges guests in four-star hotels â¬5.70 (£4.80) and those in five-star hotels â¬7.50 (£6.10).
Just yesterday, Locals flocked to the streets, squirting paella-loving punters with water guns to protest the rocketing house prices in the wake of the mounting swell of visitors year on year.
The attack marks the start of a long summer of predicted protest carnage with mass demonstrations planned across Spain in the next few weeks.
Spain expects to surpass last year’s record of 94 million tourists, with tourist arrivals in Catalonia up 10% in the first two months of 2025.
Shockingly, this is a conservative increase compared to the 13% jump in tourists flocking to Spain’s capital, Madrid.
But still, Barcelona’s room rates ballooned disproportionately, rising 10% in the year before March, 7% more than Spain’s average rental inflation of 3%.
In 2024, the historic city received over 30million visitorsâ that’s nearly half the UK’s entire population.
The majestic vistas of Lloret de Mar beach, Catalonia
Medieval Mura, which dates back to 978, would also be subject to the tax
Costa Brava beach is now besieged by millions of tourists every year
Paella punters have been given a reprieve on the hike to a tourist tax in Barcelona until at least OctoberThis has put mounting financial pressure on Barcelonians, and fury is building as many feel priced out of their home city.
The Mayor of Barcelona promised that at least 25% of tax revenue will go directly into a pot to alleviate housing shortages and spiralling rents.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Barcelona’s association of tourism apartments, Apartur, opposed the increase arguing that it would make holidays more expensive, and proposed that the tax is increased gradually.
