You’ve just arrived at your hotel for a week of sun, sea and stacks of cocktails to then be told you’ve got to pay a tourist tax… Unexpected expenses are never fun so we’ve highlighted all the important information you need to know about tourist taxes so you can be fully prepared.
Let’s get into it with a few key questions…
What is tourist tax?
Tourist taxes are a small fee paid at your hotel to be used for protecting the destination you’re in and counteract any negative impact caused by tourism.
Is tourist tax included in package holidays?
Tourist tax can be included in your package holiday price, partiuclarly when booking a TUI or First Choice holiday – however it can vary from destiantion to destination.
How much is tourist tax?
The cost of tourist tax* can vary by season and location within a destination. It tends to be charged by one of the following:
- Flat rate per person, per night
- Flat rate per person, per night based by accommodation type and star rating
- Percentage of the room rate
*Please note – Tax is inflationary, therefore charges are subject to change
Who has to pay tourist tax?
All holidaymakers are expected to pay tourist tax, apart from a few exceptions like those under the age of 16, anyone with a disability, patients and carers for those admitted to health facilities and members of the armed forces. There may be others considered for exemption, however again it is always worth checking with your accommodation provider or tour operator beforehand just to be sure.
How do I pay tourist tax?
Tourist tax is usually charged either upon arrival at your hotel, or by your tour operator and can usually be paid by cash or card. It is not something that you need to arrange yourselves prior to your holiday.
So, where do I need to pay tourist tax?
Here’s a handy guide for the tourist tax in some popular destinations. If your holiday destination isn’t featured, the best way to find the answers is to speak to your tour operator or hotel.
Tourist tax in Austria
The tourist tax in Austria varies depending on the region that you’re staying in, but to give you an idea it can range from €0.15 to 3.02% of the hotels standard rate that you’re staying at.
Tourist tax in Bulgaria
Bulgaria charges a City Tax or Resort Tax which varies depending on the area and hotel classification. Expect charges between €0.48 to €1.48 charged per person rather than per person, per night. So no matter if you’re staying four nights or ten nights, you’ll be charged the same amount.
Tourist tax in Cape Verde
Implemented to benefit residents of the Cape verde islands and continue their florousing tourism, Cape Verde has a tourist tax of 276 CVE (£2), per person, per night for up to 10 nights.
Tourist tax in Croatia
Known as the Sojourn Tax, used to help manage the increasing tourist demand, the tourist tax here varies depending on the season. Between October and March, expect to pay around €1.85, and between April to September, it’s more at approx €2.65, both per person, per night.
Tourist tax in Greece
The Overnight Stay Tax was first introduced by the Greek Ministry of Tourism on the 1st January 2018 and is something that all visitors are obliged to pay when holidaying in Greece. The Greek tourist tax ranges between €0.50 and €15.00 per room, per night, depending on the official rating of your accommodation.
Tourist tax in Italy
Tourist taxes in Italy, AKA Tassa di soggiorno, depend on where you are. Staying in Rome for example, since it’s super popular charge up to €10.00 in certain hotels, while smaller towns can be as little as €1-2.
Tourist tax in Morocco
Depending on the area and hotel star rating you can expect to pay up to 53 Moroccan Dirham (£4) per person, per nighy on holiday in Morocco.
Tourist tax in Portugal
To maintain its beauty, certain areas of Portugal including Lisbon and Porto have a tourist tax charge of €2.00, per night for a maximum of seven nights. This is required by all guests aged 13 and above.
Tourist tax in Spain
To improve and maintain its tourism-related infrastructure, a number of places across Spain charge a tourist tax, mainly in the Catalonia region (resorts like Costa Brava and Barcelona). The charge is currently around an average of €2.25 per person, per night for the first seven nights depending on your hotel type.
Tourist tax in the Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands have a Sustainable Tourism Tax that goes towards the protection of resources on the islands and is collected when you arrive at your accommodation. In the high season (May to October) you can expect to pay around €4 and in the low season (April to September) just €1.
View Balearic Islands holiday deals
Tourist tax in Tunisia
In Tunisia, there’s a Tunisian Tourism Tax that is payable at your hotel, ranging from 8 TND to 12 TND (£1 to £2) per person, per night depending on the star rating of the hotel. This tax is paid for a maximum of 10 nights and isn’t applicable to those under the age of 12.
Tourist tax in Turkey
Known officially as the Accomodation Tax, it’s only in recent years Turkey have imposed a tourist tax but due to the impact of COVID-19 and recent earthquakes they’ve suffered, it was implemented to continue to sutain holidays in Turkey. Expect to pay around 2% of the total accomodation cost – it is often already included in the hotel price, so be sure to check.
*Please note that the star ratings and hotel classification as mentioned throughout this blog refer to the official star rating of the hotel and not the TUI or First Choice rating.
Destinations that do not have tourist tax currently:
- Cyprus
- Canary Islands (Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and La Palma)
- Egypt – but there are visa rules.
If you are unsure on any of the tourist tax information be sure to ask your tour operator or accommodation and they will be able to give you the most accurate information.
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