Cruise ship crackdown hits vacationer scorching spot as metropolis fast-tracks new customer tax

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

Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni on Wednesday mentioned he desires cruise passengers to pay as much as $9.30 (8 euros) per night time, a 100% improve from the present $4.65 fee (4 euros).

The information was reported by El País, Spain’s paper of report, after Collboni appeared on Betevé, the native community.

The tax would apply to cruise passengers docking in Barcelona.

Barcelona’s City Council agreed final July to step by step improve the tax to $9.30 (8 euros), El País reported — and whereas the council agreed to boost it over the subsequent 4 years, Collboni is advocating for a right away day by day improve.

“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 mentioned, in keeping with El País.

“I want to discourage the arrival of cruise passengers,” he additionally mentioned. 

Collboni mentioned he hopes to cut back the variety of cruise passengers who cease over within the metropolis — versus beginning or ending journeys within the metropolis — to zero.

“Tourism must serve the city, not the other way around,” he mentioned.

“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.”

Collboni additionally mentioned he plans to run for re-election, which shall be held in May 2027, El País reported.

“My intention is to govern with a left-wing majority,” mentioned Collboni.

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

Fox News Digital reached out to Collboni’s workplace for remark.

The transfer is certainly one of a number of steps Barcelona has taken in its wrestle with overtourism.

In 2024, Barcelona’s metropolis council agreed to cut back cruise terminals from seven to 5 within the curiosity of limiting cruise arrivals.

In March, Barcelona almost doubled its customer tax to among the many highest in Europe to fight mass tourism.

The metropolis’s lodge visitor tax elevated to between $10 and $17 per individual per night time, whereas taxes on vacation leases rose to about $14 per night time.