> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://barna.news/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # 50 Firms Reject Cruise Tax Rise in Barcelona - URL: https://barna.news/50-firms-reject-cruise-tax-rise-in/ - Published: 2026-10-23T08:32:54.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T09:00:11.000Z - Description: Nearly 50 tourism and cruise-linked companies have united in opposition to Barcelona's planned increase in tourist tax for short-stay cruise passengers. - Author: Barna.News - Tags: tourism Photo: Pub.Cat Group ## Business Coalition Challenges Cruise Tax Hike Nearly 50 companies connected to Barcelona's cruise and tourism sectors have signed a joint manifesto rejecting the city council's decision to raise the tourist tax surcharge for short-stay cruise passengers from €5 to €24 by 2030\. The move, which was initially approved by the Full Council on 25th September 2026, has been criticised as discriminatory by the coalition, which includes travel agencies, port logistics firms, tour operators, and transport providers. The companies argue the tax unfairly targets cruise tourism while other visitor types, such as those staying in youth hostels, face no increase. The council has definitively maintained the youth hostel surcharge at €4, a decision contested by some political groups but not the tourism sector. > "So that the future of Barcelona's tourism is not built by pitting economic sectors against each other, but through dialogue, evidence, institutional collaboration, and a shared vision of the city," The coalition, which includes the Asociación Corporativa de Agencias de Viajes Especializadas (Acave), Grupo Julià, APIT Barcelona, Bergé, Pérez y Cía, and BCT, warns that tourism challenges require comprehensive solutions that also recognise the sector’s economic contribution through hotels, shops, restaurants, and transport. ## Tax Increase to Take Effect April 2027 The tax rise will be phased in gradually, beginning in April 2027, with the surcharge increasing each year until it reaches €24 in 2030, the maximum permitted under Catalan law. This places Barcelona above Amsterdam and Santorini in cost for cruise passengers spending less than 12 hours in the city. The measure passed with support from JuntsXBCN, the PSC, and ERC, while BComú, the PP, and Vox opposed it. According to the city council’s calculations, if current passenger numbers remain stable, the increase could generate an additional €23.7 million annually from 2030\. Despite the revenue potential, Fourth Deputy Mayor Jordi Valls stated the goal is not financial gain but to discourage short-stay cruise tourism. Agreements have been reached on how to allocate the funds: JuntsXBCN supports using revenues for urban shade initiatives, while ERC has secured funding for educational support programmes for disadvantaged children. --- ## Call for Fair and Evidence-Based Policy The business coalition demands taxation that is "fair, proportionate, and non-discriminatory," warning against using fiscal policy to phase out specific tourism models. They argue the debate around tourism’s impact must be based on dialogue and evidence, not political statements. They also call for greater institutional collaboration, regulatory stability, and sustainability with measurable outcomes. The group stresses that cruise tourism supports a wide network of local service providers, including private transport, security firms like Securitas, and port logistics operators. The manifesto, titled 'For a Barcelona open to the sea and the world,' underscores the importance of inclusive decision-making in shaping the city’s tourism future. --- *Sources:* [*La Razón Cataluña*](https://www.larazon.es/cataluna/frente-comun-tasa-cruceros-barcelona-cerca-50-empresas-rechazan-que-recargo-suba-5-24-euros%5F202610226ada42c43eef771e1ac3881e.html?ref=barna.news)*,* [*Ajuntament de Barcelona*](https://www.barcelona.cat/infobarcelona/en/tema/tourism/initial-approval-to-increase-the-municipal-surcharge-for-short-stay-cruise-ship-passengers-to-24-euros%5F41459.html?ref=barna.news)*.*