Tourists planning international trips may need to pay closer attention to local accommodation taxes, as several major global cities impose significant levies on hotel stays and holiday rentals.
Tourist taxes, typically charged per night or as a percentage of accommodation costs, are increasingly used by governments and city authorities to fund infrastructure, tourism promotion, and public services required to support large numbers of visitors.
Recent data on global accommodation levies shows that cities across North America and Europe dominate the list of destinations with the highest nightly tourist taxes, according to a report by Holidu.
Below are some of the cities where visitors pay the most in accommodation-related tourist taxes, ranked from the least expensive among the top 10 to the most expensive.
Barcelona recently introduced one of the highest tourist taxes in Europe, with visitors potentially paying up to €15 ($17.70) per night as authorities seek to curb overtourism and support affordable housing.
The measure was approved by lawmakers in Catalonia following growing complaints from residents who say rising tourist numbers and short-term holiday rentals are pushing up housing costs in the city.
Under the new law, tourist taxes for holiday rentals will double to a maximum of €12.5 per night, up from €6.25, ahead of plans to ban short-term rental accommodation by 2028.
Hotel guests will now pay between €10 and €15 per night, depending on the hotel category, compared with the previous range of €5 to €7.5.
For instance, a two-night stay for a couple in a four-star hotel could add about €45.60 in tourist taxes. About 25% of the revenue raised will be directed toward addressing the city’s housing crisis.
