Barcelona looks to set to increase its tourist tax on cruise ship passengers – a move approved by city council that would see fees nearly triple to €30 (CDN$48) for passengers on ships that spend less than 12 hours in the Spanish city.
The move is subject to further governmental approvals, which will weigh the desired effect of curbing over-tourism versus denting the local economy.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) warned that the measure could weaken the city’s competitiveness and have unintended consequences for the local economy.
WTTC President & CEO Gloria Guevara stated, “While we understand the complex challenges of managing a world-class destination, the proposal to increase the tourist tax on short-stay cruise passengers could place Barcelona at a competitive disadvantage compared to other Mediterranean ports.
“Barcelona has achieved remarkable success over many years, establishing itself as a global leader in tourism. However, we are concerned that these significant achievements, along with the widespread economic benefits they bring to the local community, could be inadvertently undermined by this increase.
Guevara further warned, “Evidence WTTC has gathered from other destinations shows that sudden tax hikes rarely produce the intended outcomes. For example, the UK economy could be at risk of losing at least £14 billion in international visitor spend if daily visitor taxes of €10 were introduced. Additional costs to visitors to Barcelona would likely reduce the overall economic contribution generated by the cruise industry as tourists adjust their spending habits ashore. This, in turn, would potentially lead to job losses, impacting local employment and job creation within the city’s service sectors.”
One of the world’s leading cruise homeports, Barcelona welcomes around 4 million passengers each year, though the city is “already experiencing a broader decline in international travellers due to global economic pressures,” says the WTTC.
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