NEWNow you can hearken to Fox Information articles!
One in all Europe’s most crowded vacationer cities is cracking down on cruises and their passengers, with the mayor of town pushing to fast-track a tax hike on short-stay passengers.
Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni on Wednesday mentioned he needs cruise passengers to pay as much as $9.30 (8 euros) per evening, a 100% improve from the present $4.65 charge (4 euros).
The information was reported by El PaÃs, Spain’s paper of document, after Collboni appeared on Betevé, the native community.
POPULAR TRAVEL DESTINATION DOUBLES CONTROVERSIAL DAY-TRIPPER TAX, SPARKS REACTIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
The tax would apply to cruise passengers docking in Barcelona.
Barcelona’s Metropolis Council agreed final July to progressively improve the tax to $9.30 (8 euros), El PaÃs reported — and whereas the council agreed to lift it over the following 4 years, Collboni is advocating for a right away each day improve.
Cruise passengers who briefly cease in Barcelona may quickly face considerably larger each day taxes beneath the mayor’s proposal. (Pau Barrena/AFP)
“Within the coming months, we’ll elevate the vacationer tax … in order that it comes into power within the subsequent few months and never in 4 years as we had agreed,” the mayor mentioned, in keeping with El PaÃs.
“I need to discourage the arrival of cruise passengers,” he additionally mentioned.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
Collboni mentioned he hopes to cut back the variety of cruise passengers who cease over within the metropolis — versus beginning or ending journeys within the metropolis — to zero.
“Tourism should serve town, not the opposite manner round,” he mentioned.
Barcelona officers are transferring ahead with plans to extend cruise passenger taxes as a part of a broader push to curb overtourism within the metropolis. (iStock)
“We wish high quality tourism, which is why we’re renewing the Fira de Barcelona. We’re thinking about enterprise guests,” Collboni added.
“What we don’t want is mass tourism — and that’s the reason we’ll remove vacationer flats in 2028.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES
Collboni additionally mentioned he plans to run for re-election, which will probably be held in Might 2027, El PaÃs reported.
Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni, pictured, mentioned he plans to hunt re-election in Might 2027 whereas advancing insurance policies aimed toward decreasing overtourism within the metropolis. (Alberto Paredes/Europa Press by way of Getty Photographs)
“My intention is to manipulate with a left-wing majority,” mentioned Collboni.
“I need to flip Barcelona into the grave of the far proper.”
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Fox Information Digital reached out to Collboni’s workplace for remark.
The transfer is one among a number of steps Barcelona has taken in its wrestle with overtourism.
The proposed tax hike would double the present each day charge for cruise passengers stopping in Barcelona, in keeping with metropolis management. (iStock)
In 2024, Barcelona’s metropolis council agreed to cut back cruise terminals from seven to 5 within the curiosity of limiting cruise arrivals.
In March, Barcelona practically doubled its customer tax to among the many highest in Europe to fight mass tourism.
An anti-tourism placard is seen in the course of the demonstration in Barcelona a couple of years in the past. The demonstration concerned symbolically closing lodge institutions, bars and eating places whereas heading towards Barceloneta, one of many neighborhoods that suffers probably the most from the presence of tourism. (Paco Freire/SOPA Photographs/LightRocket by way of Getty Photographs)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Town’s lodge visitor tax elevated to between $10 and $17 per particular person per evening, whereas taxes on vacation leases rose to about $14 per evening.
