Taxes for breathing? Hidden costs UAE travellers should know while touring Europe
These taxes are not limited to hotel stays, said travel experts
Dubai: As many prepare for their summer vacations in Europe, UAE travellers are being warned about a growing trend: European tourist taxes. These additional charges, often disguised as eco fees or sustainability contributions, are appearing on hotel bills and, in some cases, are levied on day visitors to certain cities, according to European tourism boards.
“You might think you're getting a great deal on flights or hotels, but these hidden taxes can add up fast,” says Jamie Fairhead, a travel and consumer finance expert. “They sound harmless – ‘air tax’, ‘eco contribution’, ‘sojourn fee’ – but they can easily cost families Dh480+ extra per trip.”
It's important to note that these taxes are not limited to hotel stays. Venice, for example, charges a day-visitor tax, and cruise passengers in Spain and Italy are subject to per-hour port taxes in addition to regular city levies.
Local governments argue that these taxes are necessary to manage the impact of tourism, fund environmental projects, and preserve historical sites. However, the way these taxes are presented, such as "clean air fees" or "sustainability taxes," can leave travellers feeling as though they are being charged for things that were previously considered free.
Travelers are advised to research the specific tourist taxes that apply to their chosen destinations and factor these costs into their overall travel budgets.
Here's a breakdown of some of the unexpected tourist taxes in Europe:
Venice, Italy: The City Access Fee, also known as a Day Visitor Tax, applies even to those not staying overnight. It costs Dh24 per person per day.
Balearic Islands, Spain: A Sustainable Tourism Tax is in place, ranging from Dh4.87 to Dh19.4 per night.
Barcelona, Spain: Visitors face a Tourism Tax, and cruise passengers pay a supplement. The tourism tax is Dh13.4 per night, and the cruise supplement is Dh14.6.
Ljubljana, Slovenia: An Environmental Surcharge, collected through hotels, is approximately Dh9.7 per night.
Amsterdam, Netherlands: Toeristenbelasting applies, and there's an additional charge related to air quality. The hotel tax is 7% of the room rate.
Dubrovnik, Croatia: A Sojourn Tax contributes to general tourist infrastructure, costing around Dh.7.31 per night
Vienna, Austria: A Local Levy (Ortstaxe) for tourism promotion and maintenance is 3.2 per cent of the room rate
Paris, France: The Taxe de Séjour varies with hotel star rating, ranging from Dh4.87 to Dh24.3 per night
Santorini, Greece: A Stayover Tax is tiered by accommodation rating, from Dh2.4 to Dh19.4 per night
Reykjavik, Iceland: An Accommodation Tax for a government tourism fund costs Dh 8.4 to Dh 16.86
Portugal (Lisbon, Porto): A Municipal Tourism Tax for local development is Dh9.7 per night
Rome, Italy: The Tourist Contribution varies by accommodation category, from Dh14.6 to Dh34.1 per night
Switzerland (Zermatt): The Kurtaxe covers air, view, and tourism costs, even for mountain huts, and ranges from Dh9.74 to Dh17.05
Germany (Cologne, Berlin): A City Tax or Culture Tax for local culture, museums, and events is 5 per cent of the room rate
Malta: The Eco Contribution for environmental protection is Dh2.44 per night, with a maximum of Dh24.3.
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