Tourists are becoming the ‘taxpayer of last resort’ for European governments as they try to fill budget gaps and pay for services, following the pandemic and rising costs. Local governments are relying on visitors for revenue for their local finances, particularly in places where tourism is a major industry. Recently, Skift investigated how and why this is happening in destinations across Europe. Skift
Changes for travelers
Many cities and regions across Europe have introduced or raised visitor fees since 2024. Examples of these include:
Amsterdam (Netherlands): The tourist tax in Amsterdam is 12.5 of an overnight stay (excluding VAT). Cruise passengers visiting the city are charged a tax of 15 per passenger per day. City of Amsterdam
Barcelona (Spain): The Barcelona municipal surcharge to the regional tourist tax is 5 per person per night from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 and will increase to 6 from 1 April 2027 and 7 from 1 April 2028. The full city rate for different types of accommodation is displayed in the table below. The rate increased to 4 on 1 October 2024. Base rates are set by the Generalitat, with the Barcelona municipal surcharge shown in the table. ATC rates and municipal surcharge Ajuntament de Barcelona (EN)
Venice (Italy): On high traffic days, day-trippers to Venice need to purchase a QR code and pay an access fee, the amount of which and dates of which are set by the city each year and published. As of July 27 2026, the 2026 trial has been ended and there is no access fee required for the rest of 2026 pending further decisions. For the 2026 trial, for example, the fee was 5 when booked in advance and 10 when booked in the last three days before the visit. Check the official websites for current calendars, fees, exclusions and exemptions. Official Access Fee FAQ Venezia Unica: Access Fee
Paris region (Île-de-France, France): In 2024, an additional 200 of the usual tourist tax was imposed on the Île-de-France region (Île-de-France Mobilités). Local operators and reservation websites must add this additional charge to the base tourist tax rate imposed by each commune. As of 1 January 2024, Greece has implemented a Climate Crisis Resilience Fee. 140 DGFIP tourist tax website, Légifrance: Finance Law 2024, Art. The fee is charged per room and per night and the amount varies depending on the category of the accommodation and the season.
The fee will be collected and reported by the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE). AADE guidance (EN) AADE CRF FAQs (PDF)
New financial burdens on travelers
Towns that want to rebuild and become resilient over the long-term have started using the fees that were originally set up to manage crowds to fund public services and infrastructure. Here’s how these fees may affect travelers:
Itemized cost of hotel or short term rentals with local taxes and surcharges.
Fees for day visitors, or restrictions on access to overtouristed areas during peak dates.
The flexibility of changing prices according to type of accommodation, season and sometimes even the date of visit.
How to plan and budget
Before you book your visit, check the current rates on official websites for your destination. The current rules can be found on your local city hall’s website, your local regional tax website or your local access fee website (see Sources below).
The base rate may not include taxes and fees. Please review your booking details. Some taxes and fees may need to be paid at check-in and check-out.
You can also stay overnight in the municipality and avoid the fee according to the rules. Look at the peak day calendars and see if you have to pay a fee (for example, in Venice), and then visit on days where the fee is not applied.
Compare neighborhoods and hotel types. Total taxes per night may vary depending on your location and type of hotel in the same metropolitan area.
Tipping and service charges are not taxes, but they can be expensive.
It will appear on the printed receipt. In the UK, many restaurants charge a discretionary service charge, which is 12.5 in London, on your bill. It is not a tax levied by the government. If the charge is labelled ‘optional’ or ‘discretionary’, you can ask it to be removed from the bill and tip (or not) as you please. VisitLondon GOV.UK: Tips and service charge guidance Acas: Tips and service charges
The only allowable deductions from the amount to be allocated are tax. The law requires employers to allocate 100 of all qualifying tips, gratuities and service charges that are received. As of 1 October 2024, the UK’s Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 has been in force. The law and code of practice only apply to the allocation of tips and service charges to employees. The law and statutory code of practice do not require that a service charge is charged to customers. Commencement Regulations (2024) Statutory Code of Practice
How to identify it: The detailed bill or the small print on the menu or booking page should have the word ‘service charge’ on it. If it says ‘discretionary’ or ‘optional’, then you should be able to request that it is removed. The HMRC guidance says that if a charge is clearly optional then it is a tip or gratuity and should not be included in the price of your meal. HMRC NIM02915, HMRC VATSC06130
Tip: If you don’t want to pay for the tip, ask before paying (especially when using a card terminal that has a preset tip amount). You can tip in cash or by card whichever is easier.
Visitor levies will continue to be in place in the future for European travellers.
