Last Updated 18 hours ago
Tourist taxes are a common occurrence in many countries around the world.
You may not have noticed them before – sometimes these taxes are small enough to escape notice, or they are hidden in your airfare or hotel bill – but they can add an extra cost to your trip nonetheless.
Here are some countries adding new tourist taxes in 2023, along with popular destinations that already have a tourist tax in place:
Spain
Several cities in Spain are introducing an increased tourist tax in 2023, including Barcelona and Valencia.
In Barcelona, tourists staying in accommodations such as hotels or short-term rentals will have to pay between €1.75 and €4 per night. Visitors entering by cruise ship will have to pay €5.75.
In Valencia, tourists must pay between €0.50 and €2 per night when staying in accommodations, including hotels and short-term rentals.
These fee increases will come into effect in late 2023, and will be used to fund infrastructure development, the construction of affordable housing for locals in tourist-heavy areas, and tourism industry investment.
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Thailand
Thailand is also expected to introduce a tourist tax in 2023. Visitors will have to pay 300 baht, around $9 USD.
This entry fee will be required for all foreign arrivals in Thailand.
The purpose of this tourist tax is purportedly to help cover foreigners for health emergencies while in Thailand, and to go towards the maintenance and development of tourist attractions throughout the country.
Italy
Although it’s been discussed for years, 2023 looks like the year that Venice, Italy will finally introduce a tourist tax for visitors.
Venice has struggled with the effects of overtourism, and this new fee is designed to compensate for this. The small city of just 55,000 people sees over 20 million tourists per year, many of them cruise tourists and day trippers who do not even spend the night in the city.
The new tourist tax will cost between €3 and €10 depending on the day, and it will only apply to those visiting for a day.
However, overnight guests in Venice already have to pay a tax between €1 and €5 per night for their first five nights when staying at any accommodation in the city.
The new day tripper tourist tax was supposed to go into effect in January 2023, but it has been delayed to later this year.
European Union
The EU is expected to introduce a new tourist tax in late 2023 that will apply to all non-EU citizens, including Americans, Canadians, and Brits.
The fee will be €7, and it will apply to all travelers except for those under the age of 18 and those over the age of 70.
This is expected to go into effect in November 2023.
Other Countries With A Tourist Tax
These popular destinations already have some form of a tourist tax in place:
Belgium: This European country charges a tourist tax of €3.75 per night for accommodations like hotels and short-term rentals.
Bhutan: This landlocked Buddhist kingdom in the Himalayas charges one of the steepest tourist taxes in the world. Foreigners must pay $250 USD per day, but this includes accommodation, food, and a mandatory local guide.
Croatia: In Croatia, visitors must pay a small (around €1) fee every night during the summer high season.
France: A “taxe de séjour” of €0.20 to €4 is tacked onto your hotel bill every night in France.
Greece: Greece also charges a hotel tax that can be up to €4 per night, depending on the star rating of the hotel where you’re staying.
Indonesia: While Indonesia does not have a tourist tax for the whole country, the island of Bali does charge a fee of around $10 USD.
Japan: In Japan, all visitors must pay a 1,000 yen tourist tax upon departure, which equals about $7.50 USD.
New Zealand: Most tourists to New Zealand must pay what is known as the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, which is $35 NZD, or around $22 USD, making this a particularly steep tourist tax.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
