The long-term goal is to remove all stopover cruises altogether.
The long-term goal is to remove all stopover cruises altogether (Picture: Getty)
A Spanish metropolis fed up with cruise ships is ready to impose a significant physique blow on stopover passengers. Barcelona Metropolis Council intends to double the vacationer tax to €8 (£6.90), stating it needs town to be a port of departure and arrival, not a stopover.
The cost can be imposed on all cruise ship passengers who keep within the metropolis for lower than 12 hours. The long-term goal is to remove all stopover cruises. The brand new measure can be carried out from 2027. Town council additionally intends to cut back the port infrastructure, slicing the present variety of seven terminals to solely 5, bodily limiting the opportunity of a number of massive ships docking concurrently and lowering the full reception capability.
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Barcelona reached a historic 832 cruise calls in 2025 (Picture: Getty)
In a latest intervention on native tv Betevé, Mayor Jaume Collboni defined that the proposal to lift the municipal surcharge to €8 can be formalised and are available into power in 2027.
“My aim is to cut back cruise ship stopovers within the metropolis of Barcelona to zero within the coming years,” the mayor pressured, including that the extra income can be reinvested within the administration of high-traffic areas and in bettering the standard of life within the districts most affected by the fixed stream of cruise passengers.
Based on knowledge from the Spanish port authority, Barcelona closed the 12 months 2025, consolidating its management within the Spanish port system. The Barcelona port reached a historic quantity of 832 cruise calls over the past 12 months, shifting round 3.9 million passengers.
Barcelona has already come below hearth for telling vacationer transport coaches they’ll pay €80 (£69.30) per day to function within the metropolis, up from the present €20 (£17.30).
It has additionally not too long ago elevated its vacationer tax to handle the housing affordability disaster and curb overtourism. The brand new tax charges, efficient from April 1, 2026, sees guests in Barcelona paying between €10 and €15 (£8.70-£13) per evening, relying on the lodging class. The tax will improve progressively throughout Catalonia, with a most price of €12.50 (£10.80) per evening for vacation rental visitors, resembling by way of Airbnb, and €10 (£8.70) for lodge visitors. The income from this tax can be allotted to housing insurance policies and the Tourism Promotion Fund, with a portion devoted to group housing initiatives.
The choice has sparked debate amongst travellers and locals, with some arguing that the tax may drive away vacationers and others supporting it as a obligatory step to handle town’s housing disaster and promote sustainable tourism.
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