Travel tax: Tourists will have to pay upon entry in 2023 or 2024.

From Algarve to Thailand, these are all new entry fees aimed at alleviating tourist overcrowding. Tourism has truly rebounded well since the pandemic, supporting tourist spots that were paralyzed by restrictions and closures. However, some once-popular destinations are again reeling under the burden of overtourism. Consequently, some have introduced a 'tourism tax' last year, with others following suit in 2023.

Many places have implemented tourism taxes, and if you've traveled abroad, you may have already paid such a tax before. Perhaps you never noticed it—sometimes it's included in your airline ticket or the tax you have to pay at the hotel. Here’s everything travelers need to know about countries that require payment for entry.

Barcelona will increase its tourism tax in 2023​

The city government of Barcelona has announced that the tourism tax in Barcelona will increase over the next two years. Since 2012, visitors to the Catalan capital have had to pay both a regional tourism tax and a citywide surcharge. On April 1, the city government raised the fee to €2.75. A second increase will take place next year on April 1, 2024, when the fee will rise to €3.25. The tax applies to tourists staying at officially recognized tourist accommodations. The council stated that the revenue generated will be used to fund the city’s infrastructure, including improvements to roads, bus services, and elevators.

Valencia will implement a tourism tax in 2024​

Valencia has announced that it will impose a tourism tax on visitors staying at all types of accommodations in the region, including hotels, hostels, apartments, and campsites. It will take effect at the end of 2023 or early 2024. Tourists will have to pay between 50 cents and 2 euros per night depending on their chosen accommodation, for a maximum of seven nights. Authorities stated that the fee will contribute to the sustainable development of tourism in the region. The funds raised will also be used to provide more affordable housing for locals in tourist hotspots.

Olhão, Portugal, applies a tourism tax in 2023​

Olhão, a fishing town in Portugal known for its tourist appeal, has begun charging visitors 2 euros per night from April to October. The tax will drop to €1 from November to March. It will not apply to children under 16 and will be capped at five nights—up to €10—per trip. According to local authorities, this fee is used to mitigate the impact of tourism on the Algarve town, including improving cleanliness and safety. Two of the 16 municipalities in Algarve have imposed tourism taxes: Faro (€1.5 per night for up to seven nights from March to October) and Vila Real de Santo António (€1 per day for up to seven days).

Thailand imposes a tourism fee in 2023​

Thailand is implementing a tourism fee of 300 Baht (€8). It was initially expected to take effect at the end of 2022, but a lack of clarity on the execution has led to delays. Currently, it appears that it has been postponed from June to September 2023, after airlines raised additional concerns. The governor of Thailand's Tourism Authority told Reuters last year that part of the fee would “be used for tourist care” as there were moments when health insurance did not cover them. It will also help fund further development of tourist attractions, such as the Royal Palace in Bangkok.

Venice will charge a tourism fee in 2024​

Venice will begin charging day visitors from 2024. This fee has been postponed several times, but the 30-day trial eventually seems set to take place over the spring and summer weekends next year. The exact date has yet to be confirmed. The city noted in a statement that the impending tourism tax “is not a money-making tool.” The revenue generated from the entry fee will be used for services that benefit locals, including maintenance, cleaning, and reducing the cost of living.

EU introduces a travel visa in 2024​

Starting in 2024, non-EU citizens, including Americans, Australians, British, and other visitors from outside the Schengen area, will need to fill out a €7 application form for entry. Those under 18 or over 70 will not have to pay the fee. This plan was originally supposed to be enforced in November 2023 but has faced delays related to the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES).
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These are all the countries where you must pay a tourism fee to enter​

Many countries have implemented tourism fees for various reasons. For some, it is an attempt to limit the number of tourists and prevent overtourism. For others, it acts somewhat like a sustainable tax per visitor. The money from these taxes is used to maintain tourism facilities and protect natural resources.

Austria​

In Austria, you must pay an overnight accommodation tax. This tax varies depending on the province you are in. In Vienna or Salzburg, you will have to pay an additional 3.02% on your hotel bill per person. The tourism tax is also called the Tourismusgesetz and Berherbergungsbeiträge.

Belgium​

The tourism tax in Belgium is also applied to the accommodation you stay at for each night. This fee is sometimes included in the hotel room price, but some fees are itemized and considered additional charges, so you need to carefully check your bill. Antwerp and Bruges charge by room. Prices in Brussels vary depending on the size and rating of the hotel. Generally, it’s around €7.50.

Bhutan​

While the tourism fees of most countries are below about €20, Bhutan’s fees are exorbitant. The minimum daily fee for most foreigners is: $250 (€228) per person per day during peak season and slightly less during the low season. But it covers a lot of services, including accommodation, local transportation, guides, meals, and entrance fees.

Bulgaria​

Bulgaria implements a tourism fee for overnight stays. It’s quite low and varies by area and hotel classification—up to about €1.50.

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Plovdiv, Bulgaria Canva

Caribbean Islands​

Most Caribbean islands have a tourism tax added to hotel costs or departure fees. 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 United States Virgin Islands all charge some form of fees to visitors. Charges range from €13 in the Bahamas to €45 in Antigua and Barbuda.

Croatia​

Croatia raised its tourism tax in 2019. However, this increase only applies during the peak summer season. Visitors have to pay around 10 kuna (€1.33) per person per night.

Czech Republic​

You only need to pay a tourism fee in the Czech Republic when visiting the capital Prague. It is quite small (under €1) and is paid per person, per night, for a maximum of 60 nights. The tax does not apply to children under 18.

France​

In France, there is a type of tax to be paid. It is added to your hotel bill and varies depending on the city you are in. Prices range from €0.20 to about €4 per person, per night. Tourist hotspots like Paris and Lyon use the revenue to maintain tourism infrastructure. The Paris area has recently received approval to increase the tourism tax for visitors staying at hotels, Airbnbs, and campsites by up to 200%. From January 2024, the fee per night for a double room at a 5-star hotel in Paris could rise to over €11.

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Paris, France Canva

Germany​

Germany has what they call a "cultural tax" (kulturförderabgabe) and also a "bed tax" (bettenssteuer) in cities like Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Berlin. The fee is about 5% of your hotel bill.

Greece​

The tourism tax in Greece is based on the star rating of the hotel or the type of room you rent. It can be up to €4 per room. It was introduced by the Greek Ministry of Tourism in an effort to reduce the country's debt.

Hungary​

The tourism fee in Hungary is only applied in Budapest. Visitors must pay an additional 4% per night based on the room rate.

Indonesia​

The tourism tax in Indonesia is only applied in Bali. In 2019, a new law stipulated that foreign visitors to the Indonesian island must pay a fee in the region of €9. The revenue from this tax is supposedly allocated to programs aimed at protecting the environment and Balinese culture.

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Bali, Indonesia Canva

Italy​

The tourism tax in Italy depends on where you are. Venice may impose a separate tax in the summer of 2022. Meanwhile, the fee in Rome ranges from €3 to €7 per night depending on the type of room, but some smaller towns charge higher rates.

Japan​

In Japan, it is exhibited in the form of a departure tax. Visitors to Japan must pay 1,000 yen (about €8) upon leaving the country. The official travel website claims this small tax makes a “significant difference” to the economy.

Malaysia​

The tourism tax in Malaysia is a flat rate and is applied for each night you stay. It is not more than about €4 per night.

New Zealand​

Many tourists, including those on business trips during the holidays and some students, workers coming to New Zealand must pay an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) upon arrival. However, travelers from Australia are exempt. It is NZD 35, about €21.

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Canva New Zealand

Netherlands​

The Netherlands has a land-based tourism tax and a water-based tourism tax. In Amsterdam, this amount currently reaches 7% of the cost of a hotel room. It is called toeristenbelast. In 2024, it will rise to 12.5%, making it the highest tourism tax in Europe. It will apply to both train passengers and overnight visitors.

Portugal​

Portugal's low tourism tax is paid per night for each person and only applies to guests aged 13 and over. It costs about €2 and is currently applied in 13 of Portugal's 308 municipalities, including the cities of Porto, Lisbon, and Faro. You only need to pay this amount for the first seven days of your stay.

Slovenia​

The tourism tax in Slovenia varies depending on location and hotel rating. It is slightly higher in larger cities and resort towns, including Ljubljana and Bled—around €3.

Spain​

If you visit Ibiza or Majorca, you will have to pay a tourism fee. A sustainable tourism tax, applied to holiday accommodations on the Balearic Islands of Spain (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera), also applies to each tourist aged 16 and over. During peak season, the tax can be as high as €4 per night.

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Madrid, Spain Canva

Switzerland​

The tourism tax in Switzerland varies by location. The fee is per night and per person and is about €2.20. Accommodation pricing usually does not include the tourism tax—it is billed as a separate amount, making it easier to track. And it only applies for stays of less than 40 days.

United States​

Hotel taxes or occupancy taxes for tourists renting accommodations are assessed in most of the United States. It is also referred to as bed tax. The highest fees are said to be paid in Houston, with a tax of 17% on your hotel bill.