One of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations is set to raise its tourist tax, making it the highest in the European Union and the fourth highest in the world.
According to the plans of the city authorities, from 2024 the tax on overnight stays will increase to 12.5 percent of the cost of a hotel room. Thus, tourists will have to pay 12.5 euros per night for a room costing 100 euros.
In addition, the increase in tourist tax will affect cruise ship passengers: under the new tariffs, they will have to pay 11 euros per person instead of 8 euros now.
The tax money will be used to pay for services to residents rather than to discourage tourists, city finance director Hester van Buuren said.
“Of course, it would be good if a high tax would help against excessive tourism, but then there would be less money,” she stated.
Also, according to van Buuren, city authorities are considering introducing a tax for transit tourists, as, for example, they did in Venice, Italy.
“We also have to deal with day-trippers. Of course, you can’t put up turnstiles to prevent anyone from entering the city, but we are going to think about how to force day-trippers to pay some kind of city tax,” the official said.