Whether you’re a seasoned globe trotter or planning your first big adventure, understanding tourist tax can save you from unexpected charges along the way.

From sunny beaches to bustling cities, you’ll find tourist tax just about anywhere. But what exactly is this fee, and how much does it cost? Is it something that you need to budget for? We’ve covered everything you need to know in this Trtl Travel blog.

What is tourist tax?

Tourist tax is a small fee that travellers pay when they stay overnight in a country that isn’t their home. However, this isn’t just any fee — it’s put to good use. The money collected is usually spent on maintaining and improving the local area, which can include anything from sprucing up parks, keeping streets clean and making sure that local tourist attractions are kept in top-notch condition. 

Michael Corrigan, CEO at Trtl Travel, explains: “Different places have different tax rules. It could be a small percentage of your hotel bill or a fixed amount per night — but it’s always best to double-check before you book how much you’ll be paying.”

How does tourism tax work?

The way tourism tax works is pretty simple. When you check into a hotel, hostel or even a short-term rental like an Airbnb, you’ll most likely see a small charge on your bill — this will be the tourism tax. It’s often only the equivalent of £1 - £5 in local currency per night, but it can vary from city to city.

The local government sets this tax, and they decide how much to charge based on what they think will help the community most, without being too heavy on travellers' wallets.

Who has to pay tourist tax?

Tourist tax is aimed at visitors from other countries who are using accommodations like hotels, rentals, and beds and breakfasts while staying in a place different from their current residence. 

“Essentially, the idea is pretty straightforward,” explains Michael. “If you’re using local services and enjoying public spaces, tourist tax is a small way of contributing to keeping those amenities in tip-top condition. Whether you’re in town for business or have your dream getaway to this destination, if your accommodation charges it, it’s going to be added to your bill.”

Some destinations might exempt children up to a certain age, but again, it’s best to check with the country and accommodation provider.

Why was tourist tax introduced?

Originally, tourist tax was introduced by certain governments across the world to reduce over-tourism and generate income from large numbers of travellers entering the country. The uplift in cheap flights means that travelling has become much more accessible for people, even if it’s just a quick 2-hour flight to a destination in Europe.

What countries are introducing tourist tax in 2024?

Surprisingly, a handful of popular countries still haven’t imposed a tourist tax, but that’s changing in 2024. 

• Venice, Italy, will begin charging tourist fees in 2024. Day trippers must pay €5 to enter on certain days from April - July between 8:30 AM and 4 PM. You can pay the fee on the Venice Access Fee site. 

• The UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system is a scheme for visitors who do not need a visa for short stays. However, it costs £10 to apply, which is non-refundable. 

• The Indonesian government announced they would impose a tourist tax for travellers visiting Bali from 14 February 2024. This will cost 150,000 rupiah per person, around £7.60 or $9.60 (correct as of April 2024).

The cheapest VS most expensive tourist tax destinations

Let's dive deep into the cheapest and most expensive tourist tax in some of the most popular destinations worldwide (all conversions are correct as of April 2024).

1. Spain - €0.25 - €3.50 (21p - £3.00)

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From the stunning streets of Madrid to the idyllic beaches of Majorca, there’s plenty to see and do in Spain. 

Depending on where you’re staying, you could find tax as low as €0.25 (21p) in the off-season on the Balearic Islands to prices as high as €3.25 (£3) per person per night in Barcelona.

2. France - €0.65 - €14.95 (56p - £12.80)

Whether you’re discovering the breathtaking views of the French Riviera or admiring the beautiful architecture of the Palace of Versailles, France has some seriously strong hitters when it comes to destinations. 

However, France also sees quite a price difference depending on where you’re staying and the type of accommodation you book. For campsites of 1 - 2 stars, they average €0.65, around 56p per night per person. You can expect to pay €14.95 for palaces, around £12.80.

3. Croatia - €1 (86p)

The sojourn tax is the tax that must be paid by all foreign and domestic citizens staying in Croatia. Depending on how long, the time of year and where you’re staying, adults can expect to pay around €1 per night, around 86p, and €0.5 for children aged 12 - 18 (43p).

4. Italy - €1 - €7 (86p - £5.99)

Celebrated for their delicious foods, if you’re visiting Italy, you can expect to find everything from pasta, pizza, gelato, focaccia and more. 

But how much is tourist tax in this beautiful country? Well, generally, the rate of tourist tax varies from city to city, but you can expect to pay anywhere between €1 - €7 (86p - £5.99) per day per person. In more popular locations like Rome, rates are €3 - €7 (£2.57 - £5.99), while cities like Milan are slightly cheaper at €2 - €5 (£1.71 - £4.28).

5. Austria - 3.2% of accommodation costs

Famous for its castles, palaces and buildings, Austria boasts some stunning architecture. If you’re planning on visiting the country, you can expect to pay 3.2% of the accommodation cost (after taking off the costs of sales tax, breakfast and 11% of the remaining amount.)

Also known as the Ortstaxe, it’s used to help finance the tourist board. For example, if a hotel charges €100 per room per night — this includes sales taxes but not breakfast — then you can expect that €2.52 of the €100 you spend will go towards the Ortstaxe.

6. Hungary - Budapest - 4% of accommodation costs

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Tourist fees in Hungary only apply in Budapest — but luckily, it can be an extremely affordable city to visit!

Travellers can expect to pay 4% of accommodation costs per night per person.

7. Germany - 5% of accommodation price

It can vary from city to city for tourist tax in Germany, but in Berlin, for example, the standard tax is 5% of the accommodation price. 

It’s a good idea to check how much tax you’ll pay when booking.

8. Bulgaria - £1.30

Encompassing Black Sea coastlines in a nation with diverse terrain, there are some beautiful sites to see in Bulgaria. 

As for tourist tax, you can expect to pay below £1.30 per night, depending on the hotel standard you choose.

9. Greece - €1.50 - €10 (£1.28 - £8.56)

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Greece is a must-visit destination known for its stunning blue waters and its sunny climate. 

In 2024, Greece introduced a new ‘Climate Crisis Resilience Fee’, replacing the previous tourist tax. Now, travellers can expect to pay anything between €1.50 (£1.28) to €10 (£8.56) per night per person depending on where you’re travelling to and the type of accommodation you’re staying in.  

In the low season of winter (November - March), the fee is capped at €4, around £3.42.

10. Malaysia - MYR10 (£1.67)

Famous not just for its bustling capital, Malaysia also boasts stunning coastal areas that are worth exploring.

Malaysian tourist tax is set at a flat rate of MYR10, around £1.67 per person per night.

11. Czech Republic - CZK 50 (£1.69)

A landlocked country in central Europe, the Czech Republic is famous for its beautiful scenery, rich history and delicious food!

If you’re planning a journey over, you can expect to pay CZK 50 per person each day, which is around £1.69. People under 18 and over 70 are exempt from paying the tax.

12. Portugal - €2 - €14 (£1.71 - £11.99)

There are so many wonderful cities to visit in Portugal, such as the bustling streets of Lisbon or the breathtaking views of Madeira. 

But not every city in Portugal charges tourist tax — you can expect to see them in places like Porto. The fee is between €2 - €14 (£1.71 - £11.99) per person per night, depending on where you stay and the type of accommodation.

13. Belgium - €4 (£3.42)

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If you’re heading to Belgium, you’ll find two different types of tourist tax: one for hotels and one for ‘domestic accommodation’ such as bed and breakfasts or campsites. 

As it currently stands, hotels are taxing €4 (around £3.42) and bed and breakfasts €3 (around £2.57) per night.

14. Japan - 1,000 Yen (£5.19)

Known for everything from their onsen hot springs to their beautiful cherry blossoms, there’s so much to explore in Japan. 

Passengers leaving either by ship or plane must pay an international tourist tax of 1,000 yen, around £5.19, upon their departure. This is to help expand the country's tourism and infrastructure.

15. Indonesia - 1,500 Rupiah (£7.60)

Bali is one of Indonesia's most popular holiday destinations, known for its stunning beaches and warm hospitality. 

From 14 February 2024, travellers will have to pay 1,500 Rupiah (around £7.60) upon entering Bali, regardless of the traveller(s) age.

16. New Zealand - $35 (£16.62)

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The New Zealand International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) is charged on most international visitors. The IVL ensures that visitors to New Zealand directly contribute to tourism and conservation projects that are part of broad, impactful changes in Aotearoa. 

The price for the levy is $35 or around £16.62.

17. Amsterdam, The Netherlands - 12.5% of the cost of accommodation

Amsterdam is set to hike up their tourist tax to a whopping 12.5% in 2024. The land of tulips and bicycles has said it’s to “pay for services for locals [...] not to discourage people from visiting the city.”

In total, that means tourists staying overnight will pay an average of €22 a night in tax, rather than €15 on a room that costs €175.

18. Bhutan - 8,254 INR (£79)

In a bid to attract international tourists and recover from declining visitor numbers since the COVID-19 pandemic, the beautiful kingdom of Bhutan is reducing its tourist tax price. 

Tourists can now expect to pay 8,254 Indian rupees, around £79. Pre-covid, tourists were expected to pay 16,509 Indian rupees (around £158.48) per night.

How to budget for tourist tax

Budgeting for tourist tax is all about being in the know before you go. It’s pretty easy to stay ahead, but Michael explains some useful tips to make sure you’re not caught out on your trip:

• “Check ahead — Before you book your stay, do a quick check to see if your destination charges a tourist tax. This will help you know exactly what extra costs you’ll be expected to pay, which means you won’t be caught short.
  
  
• Calculate the costs — Once you know the rate — whether it’s a percentage or a flat fee per night — add it up for the total amount of nights you’ll be staying. For example, if the tax is €2 per night and you’re staying a total of 5 nights, that’s an extra €10 you’ll have to find per person. 
  
  
• Factor it into your accommodation budget — When planning how much you will be spending on hotels, Airbnb or rentals, add the tourist tax into the estimated cost. This way, you won’t be caught off guard when it’s time to settle the bill!
  
  
• Prepare for variations — Keep in mind that some sites might include the tax in the advertised price, while others will add it on when you pay. Checking the fine print on your booking confirmation can usually be a surefire way to tell which approach your accommodation is opting for.”

What happens if you don't pay tourist tax?

While the amount of tourist tax you’ll pay will differ in every city you visit regardless of the country, they’re usually legally enforceable. 

That means the hotel or accommodation simply won’t let you stay there if you don’t pay the tourist tax, as they’ll be liable for this charge to the scheme if you don’t pay — and that’s money out of their pocket.

Does the UK impose a tourist tax?

Currently, the UK doesn’t enforce any kind of tourism tax, either by the government or local councils. 

However, Manchester and Liverpool introduced something known as the ‘Accommodation BID’. This is a payable fee by hotels and serviced apartments with a rateable value of £75,000 or more in Manchester and £45,000 or more in Liverpool. 

Like a typical tourist tax, the BID levy can also be known as the ‘City Visitor Charge’ and participating businesses are encouraged to itemise it on a guest's bill.

Get set with Trtl Travel

No matter where in the world you’re jetting off to, it’s so important that you’re aware of how much tourist tax you’ll be paying — you don’t want to be caught out at the end of the day!

And you’ll want to make sure that you get there in comfort and style with our Trtl Pillow Original, designed to give you complete support and relieve stress on your spine and muscles.

Discover more of what travel has to offer with our blog page.