Jaume Collboni and the tourist tax
The mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, has suggested increasing the rate paid by cruise passengers who stay in the city for less than 12 hours. Currently, these visitors pay an additional 4 euros for the municipal tax, but Collboni proposes that this figure increase.
Study and justification
During an interview with El País, Collboni revealed that studies have already been carried out on the cost that boats should pay due to the intensive use of public space they make. According to the mayor, it is vital that the city’s maintenance costs do not fall exclusively on residents and their taxes.
Furthermore, in subsequent statements, Collboni explained that he will ask the Parliament to eliminate the current limit on the tourist tax, which would allow these tourists to make an ‘extraordinary contribution’ based on the footprint they leave in the city.
Collection increase
Last June, Barcelona City Council approved an increase in the tourist tax surcharge to the maximum allowed of 4 euros per day in all accommodations. This measure will lead to a collection of approximately 115 million euros, of which 75 million will come from the surcharge and 20 million from the general tax. Currently, each cruise passenger pays a total of 7 euros for the general tourist tax of Catalonia and the Barcelona City Council surcharge. However, this figure could increase with Collboni’s new proposal.
Impact of cruise passengers
According to the mayor, around 1.5 million stopover cruise passengers visit Barcelona annually. These figures, according to Collboni, imply considerable investments in the maintenance of public space. The mayor explained that the objective of increasing the rates is not to discourage these tourists, but rather to adequately contribute to the costs of their impact on areas such as Ciutat Vella and the coast.
Fair contribution
Jaume Collboni argues that he does not intend to limit the arrival of these visitors to Barcelona, but rather that they pay just enough to enjoy the city. He highlighted that these contributions would help finance investments in 15 areas of high tourist influx defined by the council. ‘We are not looking for tourism that contravenes living in the city, since it negatively affects the right to housing and displaces middle-class youth,’ said the mayor.
Regarding the possible reduction of cruise ships and cruise passengers, as well as the elimination of some terminals in the Port of Barcelona, Collboni has cooled these options for the moment. Although he mentioned this possibility in May, he clarified that before moving forward in negotiations with the port, it is necessary that a new Government be formed in the Generalitat.
Elimination of tourist flats
Regarding the elimination of tourist apartments in the city, Collboni highlights his firm intention to achieve it. Given the concern that the Generalitat’s decree could be invalidated, Collboni stressed that this plan will be legally protected under urban planning regulations. The mayor insists on his determination to go all the way and eliminate all licenses for tourist housing in complete buildings by 2028. ‘The plan is to cancel all licenses,’ Collboni claimed.