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Tourist tax hikes arrive in Spain and the UK in 2027
Cataluña and Scotland are among the places charging visitors more next year
Holidays in Spain and the UK are set to cost a little more in 2027 as a string of destinations introduce or increase a tourist tax. Cities and regions around the world are turning to the charges to pay for tourism infrastructure, cope with the impact of mass tourism and protect their heritage, and they’re usually added per night of accommodation, which means it’s definitely worth checking before booking.
In Spain, Cataluña, the Balearic Islands and the Galician cities of Vigo, A Coruña and Santiago de Compostela already charge visitors, and the Basque Country joins them on January 1, 2027.
The rate will depend on the municipality and the type of accommodation. Rural stays will cost between €0.50 and €1.26 a night, while one-star hotels, guesthouses, hostels and campsites will pay €0.75 to €1.50. Two-star hotels will be charged €1 to €2, three-star hotels and tourist apartments €1.50 to €3, four-star hotels €2 to €4, and five-star hotels and cruise ships €2.50 to €5.
Municipalities with more than 750 accommodation places can add a surcharge of up to 50%, which could take the top rate to €7.50 a night, while towns with 25 places or fewer can waive the tax altogether.
Cataluña is putting its own charges up from April 2027, to €6 for five-star and luxury hotels and luxury campsites, €2.50 for tourist apartments, €2.40 for four-star hotels, €1.20 for campsites and other establishments and €1 for youth hostels.
Cruise passengers will pay between €4 and €6. Several municipalities have approved extra surcharges, including Castelldefels, Esplugues, l’Hospitalet de Llobregat, El Prat de Llobregat, Sabadell, Sant Cugat del Vallès and Sant Just Desvern.
In Barcelona the base rate runs from €1 to €7 depending on the category, with an additional surcharge rising from €5 to €6 in April 2027 and to €7 in April 2028.
Over in the UK, Cardiff will introduce a tourist tax from April 1, 2027. Hotels, guesthouses, cottages and self-catering accommodation will charge £1.30 (€1.54) per person per night, or £1.56 (€1.85) once VAT is included, while campsite pitches and shared rooms such as hostels and student accommodation will be £0.75 (€0.89) or £0.90 (€1.06) with VAT. Cardiff Tourism explained that where accommodation providers are registered for VAT, the tax applies to the total amount guests pay.
Several Scottish cities will bring in a tax next year too. Glasgow will charge 5% of the accommodation cost from January, Aberdeen 7% from April, Stirling 3% from June and West Dunbartonshire 5% from July. The charge is worked out before VAT and doesn’t cover extras such as parking, food, drinks or transport, and it applies to hotels, holiday rentals, guesthouses, hostels, campsites and boats.
Image: Jose María Ligero Loarte via Wikimedia Commons
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