When traveling abroad, you should take into account any tourism tax You must pay during your stay.
Some are a small additional cost added to what you pay for accommodation each night. Others may be one-time (or even daily) fees, e.g Thailand’s tourism tax. In some places like Bhutan, these fees can be quite expensive.
You may find your vacation spot has implemented this tax for a number of reasons. It may be a response to overtourism and concerns about sustainability and the environment (e.g. Venice, Italy), or it may simply be a way to help the local economy reinvest in tourism infrastructure.
Here, we’ll look at the top tourist destinations that charge tourist tax and how much you’ll pay at each.
Europe
Amsterdam
After increasing its tourism tax in 2024, Amsterdam now has the highest tourism tax in Europe, with hotels, holiday rentals (including Airbnb) and camping sites all charging guests extra 12.5% of the overnight price (excluding value added tax).
Meanwhile, cruise tourists must pay 14 euros (about $15 USD) as part of a “day visitor tax” for each day in Amsterdam. However, this fee does not include passengers starting or ending their journey in Amsterdam and passengers living in Amsterdam.
Learn more about the different types of taxes above Official website of Amsterdam.
Balearic Islands, Spain
Fees on the island range from 1 to 4 euros per night, depending on the type of accommodation, as follows:
- 4 euros (about $4.30 USD) for those staying in luxury hotels
- 3 euros (about $3.20) for those staying in mid-range hotels
- 2 euros (about $2.15) for train passengers and those staying in cheaper hotels and apartments
- 1 euro (about $1) for campers and guests
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This sustainable tourism tax applies to Minorca, Mallorca, Formentera and Ibiza. Visitors under 16 years old are exempt.
Germany
Germany charges tourists both a culture tax, called “kulturforderabgabe”, and a bed tax, called “bettensteuer”, in some of its more famous cities, including Berlin, Hamburg and Frankfurt.
In Berlin, the tourist tax is 5% of the room price. It varies in other cities such as Frankfurt (2 euros per night) and Hamburg (up to 3 euros per night).
Greek
Depending on the type of accommodation (number of stars the hotel has or number of rooms), Greece charges 0.50 euros to 4 euros per night.
Manchester, England
The New city travel fees introduced costs £1 ($1.25) per room, per night.
France
France’s tourist tax varies depending on the city you visit but usually costs between 0.80 euros and 4 euros per night, depending on the type of accommodation you choose. Find out more.
However, this year Paris’s tourism tax was increased ahead of the Summer Olympics. Now you can expect to pay between 0.75 and 15 euros per night, depending on your accommodation.
Portugal
The tax is 2 euros per night for the first seven nights in Lisbon, Porto, Faro and nine other municipalities. Other parts of the country that charge a tourist tax often have lower fees, around 1 euro to 1.50 euros per night.
Prague
In the capital of the Czech Republic, hotel stays cost 50 korunas (2.11 USD) per person per night.
Roman
In Rome, taxes range from 3 to 7 euros per night, depending on the star rating of your accommodation.
Spain
In addition to the tourist tax for Spain’s Balearic Islands mentioned above, you will find a number of taxes applicable when visiting Barcelona.
The city charges two different taxes for tourists. First is the city tax, which increases in April 2024 to 3.25 euros per night. Travelers also have to pay a regional tax depending on the type of accommodation they stay at.
- 2.25 euros per night for rental accommodation
- 1.70 euros per night for a four-star hotel
- 3.50 euros per night for five-star and luxury hotels
Cruise passengers also have to pay different amounts depending on the length of their stay. You’ll pay 3 euros for visits under 12 hours and 2 euros for visits longer than 12 hours.
Venice, Italy
Taxes in this popular tourist destination range from 1 euro to 5 euros per night and are paid towards your accommodation. The separate tax for those visiting during the peak period from April to mid-July is 5 euros.
Other destinations
Other European locations that collect tourism taxes include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Hungarian capital Budapest, Malta, Montenegro, Slovenia and Switzerland. Some localities may only have a regional tourist tax.
Travel taxes can always be introduced later, so remember to do your own research before traveling. This is especially true of Edinburgh, Scotland, because of the city on the brink of imposing a tax of 2 euros per night. Discussions about a potential tourism tax also taking place in Wales.
North America
California
According to the report, a Transient Accommodation Tax of approximately 12% to 14% of the room rate will be imposed on hotel stays in California. Turbotax. There may be other travel-related taxes.
Canada
Rates vary across the country, but Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Quebec are among the regions that add a visitor tax to hotel prices.
Hawaii
While Hawaii currently has no tourism tax, Hawaii Governor Josh Green has proposed a $25 fee on visitors when they arrive and check into hotels or short-term rentals; it may accelerate and become a reality at some point. This isn’t the first time a visitor fee has been proposed in Hawaii, which previously called for a $50 fee. Pay green fees for visitors was also released recently.
New York City
New York City charges visitors a hotel occupancy tax of about 14% of the room price plus up to $2 per room per night, according to New York City. government website.
Other destinations
In addition to those mentioned above, you will pay additional taxes and fees when staying at hotels in most other US states.
Latin America, South America and the Caribbean
Buenos Aires
Travelers will pay $1.50 per room, per night when staying in the Argentine capital.
The Caribbean
Taxes vary by country in the Caribbean. For example, Bonaire has a one-time $75 fee that travelers must pay through Its official website, while Aruba adds 12.5% to your room rate plus $3 per room per night. In Barbados, you’ll pay between $2.50 and $10 per room, per night, and there will typically be a $70 departure tax included in the cost of your flight.
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and the US Virgin Islands are also known to impose tourism taxes. Check the details before booking or travelling, as your flight price may already include departure tax.
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
In 2024, Entrance fees for visitors to Galapagos National Park will double the cost, with visitors now having to pay $200 to enter the park from August 1. Children under 12 will receive a reduced fee and children under 2 will be admitted free.
Quintana Roo, Mexico
The region charges a one-time tourist fee of 224 Mexican pesos (about $13 USD) to visit any destination in Quintana Roo. This includes Cancun, Cozumel, Holbox, Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Tourism taxes may also be added to hotel stays in these and other areas of Mexico.
Asia and the Pacific
Bali, Indonesia
Bali introduces tourism tax in February 2024. It charges 150,000 rupiah (about $9.25 USD) in addition to other visa fees. The tax is aimed at combating overtourism on this popular island.
Bhutan
Until recently, Bhutan charged a whopping fee of $200 USD per day. Called the Sustainability Charge, this tourism tax is designed to help pay for infrastructure improvements, environmental efforts and fair wages for locals, among others. other.
However, this amount was recently reduced to about $100 per day to encourage more people to visit. This is the most expensive travel tax in the world and is paid regardless of your accommodation type.
Japan
There is a 1,000 yen ($6.47) fee included in all airfares for flights departing from Japan. Find out more.
Malaysia
Malaysia’s tourist tax costs 10 Malaysian ringgit (2.08 USD) per room, per night.
Maldives
Tourist taxes in the Maldives range from 3 to 6 USD per day. The total Green Tax varies depending on whether you are staying in a guesthouse, hotel or resort. Find out more.
New Zealand
When you book your New Zealand visa, you will normally have to pay 35 New Zealand dollars ($20.60) towards the International Visitor Tax.
Thailand
A one-time fee of 300 baht ($8.14) was introduced in June 2023. All travelers arriving by air will have to pay this tax. For visitors entering through ports or land borders, the fee will be 150 baht.
Bottom line
Increasingly, tourist taxes are becoming a regular part of travel around the world. While these fees are nominal and won’t impact your budget too much in most cases, they can add up quite quickly in some destinations if you’re not careful. Always research the fees at your destination before you get there and make sure you have enough budget for it if you don’t want to be hit with a surprise bill.
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