Barcelona has many assets, and attracts millions of tourists from all over the world every year. In order to maintain its infrastructure while building for the future, the Catalan capital has introduced a tourist tax
Which tourist tax should you pay for your stay in Barcelona?
Prices and regulations for tourist tax in Barcelona
The tourist tax in the Barcelona area was introduced in 2012 to help the city fund local worksites. The city council has established a scale depending on the type of tourist accommodation you choose. To give you an order of magnitude, tourist tax rates range from €0.45 to €2.25 per person and per day, depending on the type of establishment and location. Only people over the age of 17 are subject to this tax, and only for the first 7 days of their stay. If you are planning on staying for a longer period of time, you might be interested in short-term rentals in Barcelona.
How much is this tax worth?
More than 40 million euros were collected thanks to this fee in 2014. Tourism is a major industry in Spain, especially in Barcelona, which attracts a large number of tourists. As Barcelona is a very popular destination, the tax, introduced in 2012, has raised over 82 million euros.
Who has to pay the Barcelona tourist tax and when?
Spanish tourists vacationing in Catalonia pay the tax in the same way as foreign tourists. Renters pay the tax on arrival, when the keys are handed over.
The accommodations concerned by the tax are as follows:
– Hotels
– Tourist rentals
– Campsites
– Self-catering cottages
– Youth hostels
What is the purpose of the tourist tax in Barcelona?
Take part in the beautification and restoration of the town.
Supporting establishments that welcome tourists from all over the world is the main aim of this tax. The money collected from the tax is used to beautify Barcelona’s tourist areas. This benefits both locals and tourists during their summer stay. It also provides financial support to elected officials wishing to develop new real estate structures to welcome future tourists. Barcelona is a very attractive city; however, even today, some districts still lack sufficient infrastructure.
The tax allows :
– Rehabilitate the city’s heritage
– Compensate for the summer nuisance suffered by residents of certain districts.
– Additional costs for municipal services in terms of cleaning and security,
– Improve tourist facilities.
Controlling the supply of tourist rentals
In Catalonia, a private individual who rents out a room on an Airbnb site has had to pay a tax, since 2015. This regulation was introduced to regulate the supply of tourist accommodation in this region of Spain, one of the most touristic. Owners are obliged to pay 0.65 euros per night for accommodation located in the city of Barcelona. Those outside the city pay a tax of 0.45 euro. In addition, rentals will be limited to 2 rooms and 4 months per year.
Could this tax be extended to other Spanish regions?
Opinions differ, depending on the region and the political party. There are many disagreements and controversies at local level on this subject. In Andalusia, the Hotel Federation is outspokenly opposed to the idea, believing that the introduction of the tax will significantly dampen tourism. On the other hand, the Valencia region and other regions are ready to implement the tax.
Some see the tax as a boon for improving and developing tourist facilities; others believe that the tax risks putting the brakes on tourism.
In Spain, only 2 regions have a tourist tax: Catalonia and the Balearic Islands. Granada, Malaga and Seville, as well as other Spanish cities popular with tourists, would also like to introduce the tax. Many European cities, such as Paris, Venice and Florence, have been introducing tourist tax for a number of years.
