Throw a dart at a map of the world, and there is a fair chance that the destination pinned by the dart will be drafting measures to extract a few more dollars from international tourists.
Whether the justification for taxes is to curb tourism, or provide amenities for locals, travellers will be opening their digital wallets a little more often in 2025 to pay their way around the world.
The approach by some destinations is to target day-trippers - often cruise trippers - for a tax. Others are imposing a tax on accommodation, although that can be counter-productive. It penalises the overnight visitors that a city wants to attract for their ability to spread the economic benefit beyond a destination’s hotels to restaurants, tours and transportation.
Either way, tourists in 2025 will be told to pay up, smile and enjoy the experience. Here’s what’s happening out there in tourist-tax land.
Destinations introducing tourist taxes in 2025:
1. The Maldives
The Maldives will increase the Tourism Goods and Services Tax (TGST) on tourism services from 16% to 17% in July 2025, Additionally, from January 2025, the green tax for accommodations will double. Airport fees have also been revised upwards.
2. The United Kingdom
Travellers from most countries outside Europe will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK from 8 January 2025, unless they are travelling on an eVisa. The cost is £10 (US$12.60) The ETA is a digital visa-waiver programme similar to the USA’s ESTA and the upcoming equivalents for Europe, Thailand and Japan.
Locally, nearly half of Scotland’s councils are considering a mandatory levy on overnight stays. It would be applied to hotels, bed and breakfast properties and Airbnbs. The levy is similar to tourist taxes used by European cities such as Madrid, Amsterdam, Berlin and Lisbon. Cities and towns in Wales are also working on proposals for a bed levy.
3. Spain
Businesses including hotels, car rental firms, campsites and rental properties will have to gather extra information from guests, including passport details, home addresses, the number of travellers and the method of payment for all guests over the age of 14.
Hospitality companies are required to keep the information for three years.
The current Barcelona tourist tax is the city’s third-largest source of funding, raising about €100 million (about US$108 million) last year from cruise passengers – who pay €6.25 (about US$6.8) to enter the city – and other visitors who stay in hotels and other tourist lodgings.
4. Mexico
Mexico’s Congress has voted to impose a US$42 ‘Non-Resident’ immigration levy applicable for all cruise guests docking at Mexican ports. It is due take effect from June 2025.
5. Rome
The city is banning short-term rental properties from attaching key boxes to their gates which allow guests to enter the property. Authorities claim the move is a safety measures to combat potential terrorism. Rome is preparing for busy year with the Vatican’s Holy Jubilee year being celebrated in 2025.
6. Amsterdam
The city of Amsterdam recently raised its tax on staying visitors to 12.5% of the accommodation price, making it the highest tourism tax in Europe. Funds raised will be spent on parks and festivals.
7. Venice
Venice has been testing a tax on day visitors to the city, charging five euros a day (US$5.4) for those without a hotel room. The city says the tax has raised US$2.6 million and has helped to regulate tourist numbers.