In 2024, the number of places where the tax will be levied from tourists, it will increase. For some countries and cities it is a way to combat excessive tourism, for others it is a tool to support local infrastructure. This list also includes several Russian destinations where the resort fee will be earned this year.
Supporting the local economy through fees from visitors has long been commonplace in many countries where there is no shortage of tourists. This practice is especially widespread in Europe, which is the most visited macroregion in the world.
In 2024, there will be more European destinations where taxes will be collected from tourists or the rate of such collection will be increased.
WHERE IN THE WORLD WILL TOURIST TAXES BE INCREASED IN 2024
Amsterdam, Netherlands. The tourist tax in Amsterdam is already the highest in Europe, but in 2024 it will be increased from 7% to 12.5%. The fee rate for cruise ship passengers will also rise: instead of 8 euros, travelers will pay 11 euros per day
Barcelona and Valencia, Spain. In April 2024, Barcelona will increase the municipal tourist tax, which is levied along with the regional tax (collected since 2012). Instead of 2.75 euros per night, tourists will be charged up to 3.25 euros per day, but only for the first seven days of their stay. Thus, the authorities want to encourage higher-quality tourism, giving preference to wealthy foreigners who can afford to stay in Barcelona for more than a week.
Valencia is also ready to introduce a tourist tax in the amount of 50 cents to 2 euros per night, depending on the type of accommodation. The tax will be withheld for overnight stays at a hotel, campsite or rented tourist accommodation. The fee will apply to the entire region, not just the city. Therefore, travelers to resorts such as Alicante, Benidorm and Costa Blanca should be prepared to increase their vacation expenses.
Greece. Greece has partially reformed the tax legislation in the field of tourism by introducing a tax requirement for short-term rental properties. Now, all owners of such real estate from January 1, 2024 are required to pay 0.5% of the gross income received from renting the property to the budget. In addition, the residence tax has also been modified. Previously, the rate ranged from 50 cents to 4 euros per night, depending on the type of accommodation, but now it varies depending on the season.
From March to October, when staying in a 1 and 2* hotel, instead of 0.50 euros, the tourist tax will be charged 1.5 euros per night, in a 3* hotel instead of 1.50 euros – 3 euros, in a 4* hotel instead of 3 euros it is already 7 euros. The tax rate for accommodation in a 5* hotel will increase 2.5 times and will amount to 10 euros per person per day. For short-term rentals (Airbnb, etc.), the tax will be 1.50 euros per night.
The tax on residence in Greece has been renamed: now it is called the “payment for resilience to the climate crisis.” The proceeds from this collection will go to a specially created fund to help residents of Greece in case of natural disasters.
Paris, France. Due to the Summer Olympics, the tax rate on accommodation in the French capital will be tripled.
WHICH CITIES AND RESORTS WILL INTRODUCE NEW TOURIST FEES
Portumao and Figueira da Foz, Portugal. A city and seaport in southern Portugal, the center of the municipality of the same name in the Faro District, has been introducing a municipal tourist tax since March 2024.
From March 1 to September 30, tourists will be charged 2 euros per day, in other months – 1 euro per day. In both cases, the tax will be charged for a maximum of seven nights. In Figueira da Foz, the center of the municipality of the same name in the district of Coimbra, the tax rate in high season will also be 2 euros, but in low season (from October to March) it will be 1.50 euros per night.
Venice, Italy. The Italian city will be the first in Europe to introduce an entrance fee to the historical center. So far, it is in test mode this spring: for 30 consecutive days, 5 euros will be collected from all day tourists over the age of 14.
Iceland. This year, they want to introduce a tourist tax in this northern country as well. The amount of the tax has not been determined. Earlier, the Prime Minister of Iceland, Katrin Jakobsdottir, said that the fee would not be high. The funds received from the new tax will be used for sustainable development programs.
Bali, Indonesia. From February 14, 2024, tourists will pay an entry tax of 150,000 Indonesian rupees (approximately 10 US dollars). Visitors can pay in rupees or by credit card at one of the five special payment counters in the International Arrival hall of Bali Airport. Officials say the tourist tax will be used to protect culture and the environment.
THE RESORT FEE WILL START WORKING IN ST. PETERSBURG FROM APRIL 1
In In St. Petersburg tourists will be charged a resort fee from April this year. An experiment on the development of resort infrastructure has been underway in the Northern Capital since October 1, 2023, but the collection rate is zero until March 31, 2024.
Starting from April 1, it will amount to 100 rubles per day of stay in hotels in the city. There will be no resort fee for the first day of arrival. More than 20 privileged categories of citizens are exempt from paying the fee. The funds received by the budget of St. Petersburg from the payment of the resort fee in 2024 are proposed to be used for the improvement of two beaches, the restoration of the Moscow Triumphal Gate and the creation of a fountain in the Linear Park.
Since January 2024, the resort fee has been collected in such municipalities of the Krasnodar Territory as Novorossiysk, Tuapse urban settlement of Tuapse district, Mostovskoye and Psebayskoye urban and Yaroslavskoye rural settlement of Mostovsky district. The resort fee in these territories was set at 30 rubles per day per vacationer. The fee will have to be paid immediately on the day of check-in.
Recall that on the territory of The resort fee is already charged in Anapa, Gelendzhik, Goryachy Klyuch, Dzhubgsky, Nebugsky, Novomikhailovsky, Shepsinsky, Tenginsky rural settlements of the Tuapse district and Yeisk and Dolzhansky rural settlements of the Yeisk district (30 rubles per day per person), as well as in Sochi and the federal territory of Sirius (50 rubles.).
In Russia, the resort fee is also valid in Altai Territory (Belokurikha resort, 50 rubles per day) and Stavropol Territory (Essentuki, Zheleznovodsk, Kislovodsk, Pyatigorsk and Mineralnye Vody, 100 rubles per day).
Earlier, the authorities also announced plans to introduce a resort fee of 100 rubles per day in 2024Kaliningrad region.
Elena Myagkova
