Cruise ship crackdown hits tourist hot spot as city fast-tracks new visitor tax

One of Europe's astir crowded tourer cities is cracking down connected cruises and their passengers, with the politician of the metropolis pushing to fast-track a taxation hike connected short-stay passengers.

Barcelona politician Jaume Collboni connected Wednesday said helium wants cruise passengers to wage up to $9.30 (8 euros) per night, a 100% summation from the existent $4.65 complaint (4 euros).

The quality was reported by El País, Spain's insubstantial of record, aft Collboni appeared connected Betevé, the section network.

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The taxation would use to cruise passengers docking successful Barcelona.

Barcelona's City Council agreed past July to gradually summation the taxation to $9.30 (8 euros), El País reported — and portion the assembly agreed to rise it implicit the adjacent 4 years, Collboni is advocating for an contiguous regular increase.

Cruise passengers who concisely halt successful Barcelona could soon look importantly higher regular taxes nether the mayor's proposal. (Pau Barrena/AFP)

"In the coming months, we volition rise the tourer taxation … truthful that it comes into unit successful the adjacent fewer months and not successful 4 years arsenic we had agreed," the politician said, according to El País.

"I privation to discourage the accomplishment of cruise passengers," helium besides said. 

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Collboni said helium hopes to trim the fig of cruise passengers who halt implicit successful the metropolis — arsenic opposed to starting oregon finishing journeys successful the metropolis — to zero.

"Tourism indispensable service the city, not the different mode around," helium said.

Barcelona officials are moving guardant with plans to summation cruise rider taxes arsenic portion of a broader propulsion to curb overtourism successful the city. (iStock)

"We privation prime tourism, which is wherefore we are renewing the Fira de Barcelona. We are funny successful concern visitors," Collboni added.

"What we bash not privation is wide tourism — and that is wherefore we volition destruct tourer apartments successful 2028."

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Collboni besides said helium plans to tally for re-election, which volition beryllium held successful May 2027, El País reported.

Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni, pictured, said helium plans to question re-election successful May 2027 portion advancing policies aimed astatine reducing overtourism successful the city. (Alberto Paredes/Europa Press via Getty Images)

"My volition is to govern with a left-wing majority," said Collboni.

"I privation to crook Barcelona into the sedate of the acold right."

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Fox News Digital reached retired to Collboni's bureau for comment.

The determination is 1 of respective steps Barcelona has taken successful its conflict with overtourism.

The projected taxation hike would treble the existent regular complaint for cruise passengers stopping successful Barcelona, according to metropolis leadership. (iStock)

In 2024, Barcelona's metropolis assembly agreed to trim cruise terminals from 7 to 5 successful the involvement of limiting cruise arrivals.

In March, Barcelona astir doubled its visitant taxation to among the highest successful Europe to combat wide tourism.

An anti-tourism placard is seen during the objection successful Barcelona a fewer years ago. The objection progressive symbolically closing edifice establishments, bars and restaurants portion heading toward Barceloneta, 1 of the neighborhoods that suffers the astir from the beingness of tourism. (Paco Freire/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

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The city's edifice impermanent taxation accrued to betwixt $10 and $17 per idiosyncratic per night, portion taxes connected vacation rentals roseate to astir $14 per night.