Barcelona's Mayor Jaume Colbò stated that the city council will accelerate the introduction of an increased tourist tax for cruise ship passengers. The new fee of 8 euros per person will take effect in the coming months instead of the gradual increase planned until 2029.
According to Colbò, such tourists create a significant burden on the city's infrastructure and public services, while providing limited economic benefits.
Authorities also intend to reduce the number of cruise terminals in the Port of Barcelona from seven to five. In the long term, the city hall is considering a near-total abandonment of short-term cruise ship calls.
"Tourism should serve the city, not the other way around," emphasized Colbò. He noted that the authorities are focusing on "quality tourism," particularly business trips, rather than mass tourist flows.
Additionally, city officials continue to implement a plan to phase out short-term rental housing by 2028.
According to port administration data, in 2025, Barcelona welcomed a record 832 cruise ships and around 3.9 million passengers, remaining the largest cruise port in Europe and the Mediterranean.
