Many travelers are accustomed to paying taxes and fees on hotel bills without much thought, but in many countries a “tourist tax” may be collected elsewhere during your stay. Tourist taxes are daily fees charged to visitors of a city (or country) intended primarily to generate revenue for tourism infrastructure, environmental or sustainable projects, or other local resources, although they may also be applied in the hope of combating heavy tourism in popular destinations.
Some fees vary seasonally or apply only to same-day visitors to specific attractions, and they may be paid at entry, included in the price of a visa, or built into your tour ticket fee. plane or hotel, making them difficult to identify and track. They're certainly not new, but their distribution and cost have increased in recent years as localities try to accommodate an influx of visitors.
In most cases, tourist taxes are nominal, although there are exceptions such as in Bhutan, which charges “sustainable development” fees of $100 per night for adults ($50 for children), and New Zealand, whose international conservation and tourism tax for international visitors is now costs visitors $100 NZD (approximately $56 USD) when requesting entry. Here are some tourist taxes you'll want to plan for in 2025.
ETA fees in the UK
The UK's Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system has been in the works for some time and will come into force for non-EU travelers on January 8, 2025. Visitors from the United States (as well as Canada, Australia and other visas) exempt countries) will have to apply for entry in advance with your passport details and pay a £10 fee. The authorization is valid for stays of up to six months and can be used as many times as necessary for a maximum period of two years. (One euro is approximately 1.04 US dollars.)
The European Union ETIAS tax
Visa-exempt visitors to the EU will (likely) have to pay similar fees to the UK ETA under the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) sometime in 2025 , although the rollout has been delayed several times since 2020. The app will cost 7 euros and requires you to submit your passport details and other personal information.
Local tourist taxes in Europe
The number of European destinations charging tourist taxes has increased in recent years (after some were suspended at the height of the pandemic), with other destinations considering adding fees as visitor traffic continues to rise . Some of the most important tourist taxes are listed here, but fees are also in place elsewhere, notably in France, Germany, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia and Belgium, as well as in Prague and Budapest.
Spain
Tourist taxes are widespread throughout Spain. Adults aged 16 and over visiting the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Formentera and Ibiza) must pay 1 to 4 euros per night depending on the type of accommodation. Barcelona charges both a tourist tax of 4 euros per night (which could rise to 8 euros in 2025) and an accommodation tax per night ranging from 1.70 euros to 3.50 euros. Cruise passengers entering Barcelona for less than 12 hours must pay a 3 euro tax, while those staying longer pay 2 euros.
Visitors to Asturias, Galicia and Tenerife could also face various tourist taxes in 2025, with attraction-specific entry fees likely to be implemented in Alicante and Seville.
Portugal
Portugal has also implemented various tourist taxes more than 25 municipalitiesincluding a rate of 4 euros per night in Lisbon and a new rate of 3 euros to access the hiking trails of Madeira. In some destinations, taxes vary by season and are capped at a maximum number of nights.
Italy
Tourists entering Venice on weekends (Friday to Sunday) and public holidays between April 18 and July 27, 2025 will be charged a 5 euro tax on day tours booked more than four days in advance. advance (10 euros for those reserved with less notice). There is also a tax on overnight stays ranging from 1 to 5 euros per person per night depending on the season and type of accommodation.
Tourist taxes in Rome vary depending on the type of accommodation: from 3 euros per night for campsites to 10 euros per night for 5-star hotels, up to 10 days of continuous stay. Lake Como plans implement fees for day trippers with a structure similar to that of Venice in the near future.
Greece
Greece will increase its visitor fees in 2025 at 2 euros per day in low season and 8 euros per day between April and October. Cruise lines taking day trips to Santorini and Mykonos must pay a fee of 20 euros, while those to Athens and Crete will be charged 5 euros. Some hotels will also add a supplement of 15 euros.
The Netherlands
Amsterdam imposes a tax of 12.5% on the nightly rate on all accommodation, including hotels, vacation rentals and campsites, as well as a “day trip tax” of 14.50 euros for cruise ship passengers in 2025 (compared to 14 euros previously).
Iceland
Visitors to Iceland will see a fee of 600 ISK (just over US$4) added to their hotel bills, while those traveling on cruise ships pay 1,000 ISK. Travelers using campsites, mobile homes and caravans are charged 300 ISK.
Other local tourist taxes
Of course, many other countries around the world charge fees to foreign travelers, including the following:
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Bali, Indonesia: A new tourist tax starting in February 2024 costs around $10 per person.
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Maldives: The “green tax” will jump from $6 per day in most accommodations to $12 per day in 2025.
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Thailand: Thailand's tourist tax is a one-time fee of 300 baht (approximately US$9) for travelers arriving by air and 150 baht for those arriving by land or sea.
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Buenos Aires, Argentina: Hotels charge $1.50 per person per night for foreign tourists.
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Quintana Roo, Mexico: Visitors to places like Cancun, Cozumel, and Tulum must pay a one-time fee of around $10 to $11, in addition to various hotel taxes around Mexico.
