Cruise Tax Hike in Barcelona Could Impact Relationship with Cruise Lines

Barcelona, a popular Mediterranean cruise port, is planning to increase the tourist tax for cruise passengers significantly.

Currently set at €7 per day for less than 12 hours, the city’s mayor, Jaume Collboni, hinted at a substantial hike during a recent interview.

‘Substantial’ Increase Planned

This cruise tax hike aims to address the impact of mass tourism in Barcelona and will need approval from the Catalan regional government. With potential changes on the horizon, cruise travelers may see higher fees when visiting this vibrant Spanish city.

A critic of the cruise industry, Collboni sees it as another measure to “tackle the consequences of mass tourism” in Barcelona. The city has commissioned studies to evaluate how much the tax increase should be.

“Tourism is an important sector of its economy but that said, I’m determined to tackle the negative impacts that mass tourism is having for the city,” the mayor said. Referring to short port calls, he added: “You get an intensive use of public space without any benefit. We want tourism that respects its destination.”

Along with the Spanish island of Mallorca, Barcelona has been at the forefront of anti-tourism protests. A recent demonstration of several thousand marches occurred in Catalan city, with protestors spraying tourists with water pistols.

CLIA Responds to Growing Opposition to Cruise Ships

This has alarmed the European arm of the Cruise Lines International Association. Director Marie-Caroline Laurent said cruise lines may soon have to make itinerary changes to skip ports like Barcelona.

“There will be some consideration of adapting itineraries if we feel that all passengers will not be well-treated,” she said. “The scenes that have been seen in places like Barcelona have an impact on the reputation of the destination.”

Mayor Jaume Collboni recently said the city is at breaking point regarding cruise ship capacity, however CLIA responded by claiming cruise ship guests only make up about 4% of Barcelona’s total tourist numbers.