This year, international travel is expected to recover to its highest level since 2019. This is great news for the entire tourism industry, but many cities, destinations and entire regions are struggling with the strain of overtourism.
Potential damage to historical sites, disorderly tourist behavior, and simply overcrowding are all common consequences of overtourism, which is why popular destinations are increasingly introducing tourist taxes in an effort to curb visitor numbers and improve local infrastructure to better accommodate the increased tourist capacity.
Many countries and cities will introduce a tourism tax in 2023, and many more are due to do so in 2024. Tourism taxes are nothing new and you’ve probably paid one before, probably along with the tax you pay on your plane ticket or at a hotel.
However, more destinations than ever before are imposing this fee on tourists, and many places are increasing their existing fees. Here’s a complete list of all destinations that will impose a tourist tax in 2024, including all recently introduced and upcoming tourist taxes.
Austria
Austria imposes a lodging tax on tourists, with the amount varying by state. In Vienna and Salzburg, you’ll pay 3.02 percent per person on top of your hotel price.
Belgium
In Belgium, like Austria, there is a nightly fee, but some hotels will include it in the room rate and add it separately to your bill, so read carefully.
In Brussels the fee is charged per room and varies depending on the size and rating of the hotel but is usually around 7.50 euros. In Antwerp it is also charged per room.
Bhutan
Bhutan has always been known for its high tourist taxes and fees. In 2022, the Himalayan kingdom tripled taxes on tourists to a minimum of $200 a day, but has since lowered the amount. In 2024, the daily fee for the majority of tourists will be $100, which is set to remain the case until August 31, 2027.
Bulgaria
Accommodation in Bulgaria costs money, but the maximum is 1.50 euros.
Caribbean
The following Caribbean islands impose a tourist tax ranging from 13 to 45 euros: Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the US Virgin Islands.
Taxes tend to be added to hotel and departure fees.
Croatia
During peak season, Croatia charges tourists only 10 kuna (1.33 euros) per night.
Czech Republic (also known as Czech Republic)
In the Czech Republic, the fee only applies to people travelling to Prague, does not apply to anyone under 18 and costs just under €1 per person per night.
France
France’s “occupancy tax” varies from city to city and tends to be added to the hotel bill, ranging from €0.20 to €4 per person per night.
Earlier this month, Paris announced it would increase prices for guests in hotels, Airbnb and campsites by up to 200%, but said the money would be used to improve city services and infrastructure.
Read more: Why the cost of traveling to Paris will skyrocket this summer
Germany
In Germany, certain cities, including Frankfurt, Hamburg and Berlin, impose a “culture tax” (kulturförderabgabe) and a “lodging tax” (bettensteuer) on tourists, which amounts to about 5 percent of the hotel price.
Greece
Greece’s tourist tax is based on a number – specifically, the number of stars in the hotel and the number of rooms rented. The fee was introduced by the Greek Ministry of Tourism to help pay off the country’s debt, and starts at 4 euros per room.
Hungary
In Hungary, only Budapest charges tourists 4 percent of the accommodation price.
Iceland
Iceland will introduce a tourist tax of 4-7 euros per night this year to protect its “pristine nature”, after tourist numbers hit an estimated 2.3 million per year.
Indonesia
The only Indonesian destination that imposes a tourist tax is Bali, which is set to increase to $10 (£7.70, €8.90, 150,000 Indonesian rupiah) in February, but this is a one-time entrance fee, not an overnight tax, which will supposedly go towards protecting the island’s “environment and culture”.
Italy
Like France, tourist taxes in Italy vary depending on where you live. Rates in Rome usually range from 3-7 euros per night, but some smaller Italian towns charge much more.
Venice finally announced in September that it would introduce a 5-euro (4.30 pounds, 5.40 dollars) tourism tax in 2024, applicable on various days during the high season, though the tax would only apply to day-trippers, not overnight guests.
Japan
In Japan there is a departure tax of about 1,000 yen (8 euros).
Malaysia
Malaysia has a flat rate tax of approximately 4 euros per night for each stay.
new zealand
New Zealand tax comes in the form of an International Visitor Conservation Tourism Levy of around €21 that must be paid on arrival, but does not apply to people from Australia.
Netherlands
The Netherlands has both land and water taxes. Amsterdam plans to increase its tax rate by 12.5% in 2024, making it the highest tourist tax in the European Union.
Portugal
Portugal has a low tourist tax of 2 euros, which applies to everyone over the age of 13. The tax only applies to the first 7 nights of your stay and applies to 13 Portuguese municipalities, including Faro, Lisbon and Porto.
Olhão has become the latest region to start charging the fee between April and October, dropping to 1 euro outside of this period and capped at five nights throughout the year. The money will be used to minimise the impact of tourism on the Algarve town.
Slovenia
In Slovenia too, the tax is determined based on location and hotel rating: in larger cities and resorts such as Ljubljana and Bled the tax is higher, but still around €3 per night.
Spain
Spain imposes a sustainable tourist tax on accommodation for travelers over the age of 16 in the Balearic Islands. During high season, travelers can be charged up to 4 euros per night.
Barcelona city authorities have announced that they plan to increase the city’s tourist tax over the next two years, with the rate set to rise to €3.25 on April 1, 2024. The city council said the money would be used to improve infrastructure and services, which will be levied in addition to Catalan regional taxes.
Switzerland
The tax in Switzerland varies depending on the location, but it costs around 2.20 euros per person per night and tends to be listed as a separate amount on your accommodation invoice.
Thailand
Thailand is introducing a tourism tax on flight prices in April 2022, a move that echoes Bali’s efforts to move away from its image as a “cheap” holiday destination: the fee for all international visitors is 300 baht (£6.60, $9).
we
The United States has a “lodging tax” that applies in most parts of the country to travelers who rent lodging in hotels, motels, inns, etc. The highest tax is estimated to be in Houston, where an additional 17 percent of the hotel bill is charged.
Hawaii could impose a “greens fee” that would apply to all visitors over the age of 15. It was initially set at $50 but has since been lowered to $25. It still needs to be passed by lawmakers, but if approved, it probably wouldn’t go into effect until 2025.
european union
Finally, the European Union plans to introduce tourist visas in 2024. All visitors from outside the Schengen area aged between 18 and 70, including Britons and Americans, will need to fill out a €7 application.
Read more: Why sustainable tourism isn’t enough anymore
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