Barcelona (Spain) pushes for new taxes on cruise ship passengers
24-07-24
The mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, has announced a plan to increase the tourist tax aimed at cruise ship passengers. This measure, discussed in an interview with El País, aims to tax tourists who are in the city for less than 12 hours, who according to the mayor, intensively use public space without bringing significant economic benefits.
The growing unease of Barcelona residents against mass tourism has driven this decision. Complaints center on the rising cost of living and the saturation of public space. This phenomenon is not unique to Barcelona, as other Spanish and European cities are also implementing similar restrictions.
Collboni mentioned that cruise ship passengers bring with them a sense of “occupation and saturation” and that the city seeks a more respectful tourism. The proposal still requires regional government approval for implementation.
Protests against tourism are not limited to Barcelona. Palma de Mallorca, Malaga and the Canary Islands have also been the scene of demonstrations where residents express their discontent with mass tourism. In Barcelona, demonstrations have included symbolic acts such as spraying water on tourists and chanting “Tourists, go home.”
Barcelona is not the only city in Europe that is taking measures to control the impact of mass tourism. Greece, Italy, and the Netherlands have implemented restrictions on the number of cruise ships allowed in their most popular destinations. These actions reflect a growing movement towards sustainability and responsible tourism management.
The tax increase on cruise passengers is part of a broader effort to address the challenges of mass tourism in Barcelona. The city hopes that these measures will help alleviate pressure on public space and improve the quality of life for residents. However, it remains to be seen how this measure will affect the local tourism industry and the perception of Barcelona as a tourist destination.
Mayor Jaume Collboni's initiative to increase taxes on cruise ship passengers in Barcelona is a direct response to growing concerns about mass tourism. This approach seeks to strike a balance between economic development and residents' quality of life. While other European cities are also implementing similar measures, Barcelona is at the forefront of a movement to make tourism more sustainable and respectful of local communities.
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