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To preserve their popular tourist sights and natural resources, several countries will be imposing tourism taxes on foreign visitors in 2026.
If you want to visit spots like the
Edificio Metropoli, Gran in Madrid, tourists will have to pay a special tax
In an effort to overcome overtourism and preserve local infrastructure, several countries are planning to introduce tourism taxes, which will make it more expensive for travellers to visit their shores and have a significant impact on the global tourism economy.
Having recognised that regular tourism is better than overtourism, which comes with several social risks, government authorities in countries such as Thailand, Japan, Norway, Greece, Italy, and Spain will be expanding levies on visitors to safeguard their stunning landscapes and sights for generations to come.
Thailand
A popular foreign destination among Indians, Thailand will start charging tourists a fee of 300 baht (approximately Rs 818) from February 2026. The fee, which is locally known as ‘Kha Yeap Pan Din’, will be collected by the airline and border authorities on all arrivals by air, land and sea. Of the entire sum, 70 baht (approximately Rs 191) will be reserved for travel insurance coverage, and the remainder will support the country’s infrastructural upgrades and emergency services. Possible exemptions may be given to work visa holders and frequent visitors.
Japan
Wary of overtourism and its consequences, Japan will be adopting a new tiered hotel tax in Kyoto from March 2026. For accommodation, tourists will have to pay from ¥200 (approx. Rs 114) for budget stays to ¥10,000 (approx. Rs 5,722) per night at luxury hotels. The Japanese are expecting an annual raise of ¥12.6 billion (approx. Rs 721 crore) through their tiered hotel tax and investing it towards more efficient transport mobility and crowd management.
Norway
Norway, too, is planning to introduce its first national tourist tax in 2026. It is understood that the authorities have issued a directive to municipalities, allowing them to charge up to 3 percent tax on overnight stays and cruise visits. Popular tourist attractions like Bergen, Geiranger, and Tromsø will be implementing the fee as early as summer next year. The aim is to safeguard infrastructure and ease crowd pressure in fjord towns and Arctic regions.
Greece
A disembarkation fee for cruise passengers has been introduced to overcome the repercussions of overcrowding on Greece’s popular islands. Travellers will have to pay an extra €12 (approx. Rs 1,229) in Santorini and Mykonos and €3 (approx. Rs 307) at smaller island ports in regular months and significantly higher fees during peak season. The revenue will mainly go towards efforts for waste management and crowd security.
Venice
A daily visitor entry fee will be reintroduced in Venice with higher charges in 2026. From the levy of €5 (approx. Rs 512), the travellers will now have to pay €10 (approx. Rs 1,024) for reservations made within three days of arrival. The measure remains applicable for 54 high-traffic days between April and July. Visitors are required to undergo QR code registration for entry.
Spain
Spain’s tourism tax is about to further expand in the coming year. While travellers currently pay an extra €4 (approx. Rs 409) per night for stays and accommodation, this fee will rise by another hundred rupees in 2026 and nudge over Rs 1,000 by 2029. The tax system is aimed at boosting heritage preservation and environmental projects.
November 12, 2025, 09:44 IST
