Cruise ship crackdown hits tourist hot spot as city fast-tracks new visitor tax

One of Europe's most crowded tourist cities is cracking down on cruises and their passengers, with the mayor of the city pushing to fast-track a tax hike on short-stay passengers.

Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni on Wednesday said he wants cruise passengers to pay up to $9.30 (8 euros) per night, a 100% increase from the current $4.65 rate (4 euros).

The news was reported by El Pais, Spain's paper of record, after Collboni appeared on Betevé, the local network.

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The tax would apply to cruise passengers docking in Barcelona.

Barcelona's City Council agreed last July to gradually increase the tax to $9.30 (8 euros), El Pais reported - and while the council agreed to raise it over the next four years, Collboni is advocating for an immediate daily increase.

"In the coming months, we will raise the tourist tax … so that it comes into force in the next few months and not in four years as we had agreed," the mayor said, according to El Pais.

"I want to discourage the arrival of cruise passengers," he also said. 

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Collboni said he hopes to reduce the number of cruise passengers who stop over in the city - as opposed to starting or finishing journeys in the city - to zero.

"Tourism must serve the city, not the other way around," he said.

"We want quality tourism, which is why we are renewing the Fira de Barcelona. We are interested in business visitors," Collboni added.

"What we do not want is mass tourism - and that is why we will eliminate tourist apartments in 2028."

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Collboni also said he plans to run for re-election, which will be held in May 2027, El Pais reported.

"My intention is to govern with a left-wing majority," said Collboni.

"I want to turn Barcelona into the grave of the far right."

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Fox News Digital reached out to Collboni's office for comment.

The move is one of several steps Barcelona has taken in its struggle with overtourism.

In 2024, Barcelona's city council agreed to reduce cruise terminals from seven to five in the interest of limiting cruise arrivals.

In March, Barcelona nearly doubled its visitor tax to among the highest in Europe to combat mass tourism.

The city's hotel guest tax increased to between $10 and $17 per person per night, while taxes on holiday rentals rose to about $14 per night.