Increase in the municipal tourism surcharge to fund public services
The municipal tourism surcharge will rise from 3.25 euros to 4 euros per person per night from 1 October, the maximum amount allowed by law. The surcharge will be applied to everybody staying in the city, on top of the tax for overnight stays in all categories of tourist establishments. The measure is part of the municipal strategy to manage tourism and should help fund the public services in the city subject to the most pressure by tourism.
Two young tourists with suitcases in a city street
Estimates put the additional revenue generated by the increase at twenty million euros, which will help boost the social return of tourism and fund ordinary services in the city such as cleaning, security, public lighting and transport, all of which are subject to intensive use by visitors.
The extra revenue will also help fund the Plan for High Influx Spaces (EGA), to manage the parts of the city with the highest occupancy and saturation, and also help improve the balance between locals and visitors with measures such as the increase in the number of civil officers, improvements to public space, the management of flows of tourists and more vitality for local commerce in these areas.
Finally, part of the funds generated by the surcharge will be used for projects to promote fairs and congresses that add diversity to the city economy, bringing more value and helping to add vitality.
Adding the revenue for the wholly municipal charge and the 50% share that the city receives from the tax on overnight stays in tourist establishments (IEET), paid by the Government of Catalonia, Barcelona will receive more than 115 million euros.
The increase in the rate was provisionally approved by the Full Council at the end of July, with broad support among municipal groups. Now, with no challenges made during the public scrutiny period, the move is automatically approved.
