Barcelona Tightens Overtourism Crackdown with Cruise and Hotel Tax Increases
Barcelona is tightening its fight against overtourism, proposing a maximum €24 cruise-visitor tax for stays under 12 hours (up from €8) and nearly doubling the hotel guest tax, as locals protest overcrowding and rising rents. City officials say the measures aim to attract more diverse visitors and reclaim urban space for residents, not to deter tourism, with Catalonia recording about 20 million visitors in 2024 and Barcelona targeting a cap near 16 million annually (roughly 15.7–16 million in 2025).
