Barcelona agreed to raise the total tax on cruise passengers staying under 12 hours to €30 from €11, with the increase set to take effect as soon as this year once formally enacted.
The new charge combines a €24 municipal surcharge and a €6 regional fee, and city politicians say it is meant to deter short-stop cruise tourism rather than simply raise revenue.
Homeport passengers will be exempt, but cruise lines are expected to pass the higher levy into ticket prices, drawing warnings from the World Travel & Tourism Council that Barcelona could lose competitiveness and jobs.
Officials have also discussed capping annual cruise traffic at about 3.5 million passengers, roughly 500,000 below the current volume of nearly 4 million, as Barcelona broadens its push against overtourism.
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