paris city tax for tourist

What is the Paris Tourist Tax? (and how much is it?)

By: Author Sophie Nadeau

Posted on Last updated: 10th February 2024

Categories Paris

Last Updated on 10th February 2024 by Sophie Nadeau

On a recent trip to Paris, I was pretty shocked to find that we were asked to pay over €16 each when checking into our four-star hotel. The reason why? Well, as of the 1st of January 2024, the city of Paris has implemented a high cost Paris tourist tax for those staying in temporary accommodation in the city. In this article, we’ll dive into how much the tourist tax is and who has to pay it.

Please note that, when you’re booking a hotel in Paris, there will be a note somewhere on the listing of how much the tourist tax is. However, whereas some hotels factor the tax into the overall price you’ll pay (though it will have its own line on the invoice you receive), other hotels will make you pay the cost separately upon arrival.

What’s the tourist tax for?

Who does the tourist tax apply to, how much is the tourist tax, how do you pay the tourist tax.

By and large the tourist tax is the way of the city making extra money by charging non-resident visitors a compulsory tax to stay in the city. Tourist taxes are common all over France and are meant to aid in the development and promotion of tourism in the areas where they’re implemented.

When travelling around a lot of Europe, you’ll often find a mandatory extra charge known as the tourist tax either when you pay for the hotel or upon checking in. Other places where the tax is implemented include Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and Greece.

There was a tourist tax prior to January 2024, but it was a maximum of a few euros per night. In light of the Olympics coming to Paris, the city has decided to up the tourist tax by over 200%!

The tourist tax applies per adult (not per room) to visitors staying overnight in the following types of accommodation. Rather egregiously, you even have to pay the tourist tax if you’re camping in a campsite and have brought your own tent along with you!

Children under the age of 18 are exempt from paying the tax. Visitors who are staying with family or friends are exempt from paying the tax. The following places impose the tax:

• Tourist hotels
• Aparthotels 
• Furnished rentals
• Bed & Breakfasts
• Holiday villages
• Outdoor accommodation (think tents and yurts)
• Youth hostels

The good news is that the tourist tax varies depending on what kind of accommodation you’re staying in, meaning that if you’re travelling to Paris on a budget , then you can stay in a lower tax class accommodation in order to keep your budget down.

If you are staying in a place which doesn’t yet have a tourist tax classification, then you can expect to pay a proportional tax of 5% of the cost of the night excluding tax with a maximum price of €14.95.

The tourist tax will be paid directly to your hotel either by cash (France uses the euro) or by card. As I mentioned, sometimes you will pay the tourist tax at the same time as your room, and at other times you’ll be asked to pay at check in.

Sophie Nadeau loves dogs, books, travel, pizza, and history. A Francophile at heart, she runs solosophie.com when she’s not chasing after the next sunset shot or consuming something sweet. She splits her time between Paris and London and travels as much as she can! Subscribe to Sophie’s YouTube Channel.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

• 01273 827327
• Get a quote
• Request brochure

How much is Paris tourist tax? 2024 rates explained

25 Jan 2024, 17:31 by Sam Taylor

The tourist tax visitors must pay when staying in Paris has increased. So how much is the tax and do you need to pay it on a school trip to Paris ? Here's everything you need to know.

How much is Paris tourist tax 2024?

The amount of euros adults must pay is calculated by person by night and varies depending on the star-rating of their hotel.

How much has Paris tourist tax increased by?

Paris City Hall has decided to increase Paris tourist tax by 200% for the year 2024. The decision was made to support Île-de-France Mobilités—responsible for public transport including the metro & bus—in transporting the greater numbers of passengers expected in the city for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.

How do I pay Paris tourist tax?

Paris tourist tax is paid directly to your hotel in euros via cash or card. At certain hotels it is possible to pay in advance, in which case you will send us the payment and we will pay the hotel on your behalf via bank transfer ahead of your trip.

Do school students need to pay tourist tax in Paris?

No. Children under the age of 18 are exempt from the Paris tourist tax rules. Paris tourist tax only applies to adults on the trip who 18 years old and above.

Why do I have to pay Paris tourist tax?

Visitors aged 18 years and over staying in hotels, aparthotels and furnished rentals during their stay in Paris must pay tourist tax. Tourist tax is commonplace across Europe including popular holiday destinations such as Rome,  Milan, Naples & Venice .

The tourist tax has increased by 200% ahead of the 2024 Olympics in order to help support the continued operation of public transport.

More about school trips to Paris

• How your school trip to Paris is financially protected
• Essential checks you need to make before travelling to Paris

Get a quote ✅

Receive a no-obligation quote for your group from one of our educational travel experts.

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes

Paris Is Going to Be More Expensive for Travelers in 2024 — Here's Why

Paris' tourism tax increase was implemented on Jan. 1.

Alexander Spatari/Getty Images

Visiting Paris is about to get a bit more expensive as the city raised taxes on hotels and other accommodations at the beginning of the year.

The increase, which went into effect on Jan. 1, charges travelers up to nearly 200 percent more in nightly tax to stay in 2024, Atout France, the country’s tourism development agency confirmed to Travel + Leisure. The tax increase varies based on the type of accommodation. 

The largest increase is for travelers staying in “palaces.” Those tourists will have to pay a nightly tax of €14.95 ($16.38), a 199 percent increase compared to the 2023 rate of €5 ($5.48). Travelers in 5-star accommodations will have to pay a nightly rate of €10.73 ($11.75), a 186 percent increase compared to the 2023 rate of €3.75 ($4.11), and travelers in 4-star hotels will have to pay a new rate of €8.13 ($8.91), a 182 percent increase compared to the 2023 rate of €2.88 ($3.15). 

Travelers staying in 1-star hotels, holiday villages, guest rooms, or hostels will have a more modest increase with the new rate of €2.60 ($2.85), compared to the 2023 rate of €1 ($1.10).

The decision to raise taxes comes months ahead of the much-anticipated Paris Olympics . Hotel prices have been on the rise leading up to the games, averaging more than 300 percent higher than normal for this summer. Overall, Paris expects more than 11 million visitors to head to the city for the event, which kicks off July 26.

Paris is also not alone in raising taxes. Amsterdam similarly approved a city tourist tax increase for this year, requiring visitors to pay 12.5 percent. The tax will apply to both travelers staying overnight and visiting on cruise ships. 

Some destinations are adding new taxes for travelers, like Iceland, which will start charging travelers in an effort to support the country’s climate and sustainability goals, and Venice, which plans to implement a fee for day trippers this spring in addition to the tax it already charges overnight guests.

Related Articles

Javascript est desactivé dans votre navigateur.

République Française

Service-Public.fr

Le site officiel de l’administration française

• Se connecter
• Accéder au site pour les entreprises

This page has been automatically translated. Please refer to the page in French if needed.

Share the page

Link copied

New additional tax to the tourist tax in Île-de-France

Publié le 17 janvier 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Since 1 er  January 2024, a new additional tax of 200% to the tourist tax or flat-rate tourist tax collected applies. It applies to the Île-de-France region.

The 2024 budget law introduced a new tax to the Île-de-France Mobilités residence tax. This amounts to 200% of the tourist tax and concerns Paris and the municipalities and communities of municipalities in the Île-de-France region.

It shall be drawn up and recovered in the same way as the tourist tax to which it is added.

The amount of this tax varies according to the category of accommodation, just like the tourist tax.

Tourist tax rates in Paris in 2024

At 1 er  January 2024, the prices of the tourist tax in Paris are as follows:

Please note

The rate applicable in Paris for accommodation not classified or awaiting classification is 5% of the cost per person of the overnight stay up to a limit of €14.95.

Statute and miscellaneous references

LAW No. 2023-1322 of December 29, 2023 on finance for 2024 - Article 140

General Code of Territorial Authorities - Article L2333-26

Additional topics

Tourist tax: what are the rates?

Tourist tax rates in force in Paris from 1 January 2024

City of Paris

Apprentissage

Jusqu'au 17 mai 2024

La semaine de l'alternance du 13 au 17 mai 2024

Publié le 03 mai 2024

Déplacements

À partir du 1 mai 2024

Mai à vélo 2024 : un mois pour fêter et adopter la pratique du vélo !

Publié le 26 avril 2024

À partir du 11 avr. 2024

Déclaration des revenus de 2023 : toutes les dates !

Publié le 11 avril 2024

Voir toutes les échéances

• Weather in Paris
• Recommended
• Eiffel Tower
• Champs-Elysées
• Charles de Gaulle
• With Terrace
• Private Tours
• Cruises Tours
• Dinner and Show
• Food & Wine
• Bike & Segway
• Around Paris
• Disneyland Paris
• Christmas & New Year's Eve
• Where to eat in Paris?
• City Visits
• Shopping Guide
• Local Holidays
• Getting There
• Getting around
• Opening times
• Communications
• Health Information
• Disabled people
• Bars and Cafes
• Night Clubs
• Restaurants

Tourist tax in Paris

A tax for the development and promotion of tourism in Paris

On 1 January 1994, the Paris City Council introduced a tourist tax (“taxe de séjour”) which is applicable to all forms of paid accommodation: hotels and apartments, furnished accommodation, camp sites, etc.

During their stay in France, visitors are usually asked to pay a tourism tax or a flat-rate tourism tax which is fixed by the local authority and varies from € 0.15 to € 1.07 per person per day, according to the quality and standard of the accommodation.

Where the tourism tax is not flat rate, children under 4 years of age are exempt and children under 10 are charged half the rate.

This tax is collected by the owner of the accommodation and will be included in your hotel bill, rent, etc…so you do not have to worry about it.

Allocated to the development and promotion of tourism , this tax is also collected by many other countries (in Europe: Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, Greece).

Your comments : Tourist tax

• Bike hire in Paris
• Cost of living
• Restaurant Prices
• Banks, Exchange
• Tourist Tax
• Useful numbers
• Smoking/No smoking

Paris weather

Paris tour top sellers, best paris tours, paris rent a car.

We have selected for you the best car rental companies in Paris.

Last Comments

Follow paris-paris-paris.com on:, paris-paris-paris.com.

paris-paris-paris.com is a private company run by travel enthusiasts that love Paris and all it has to offer.

• Advertising
• Associated cities
• Contacts us
• The Other Paris

Accommodation

Our aim is to help you find the best hotels or holiday apartments for your stay..

• Your hotel in Paris
• Recommended hotels
• Holiday apartments
• Monthly apartments

Paris City Guide

Provide our visitors with a comprehensive city guide of Paris.

• Latest trendy shops 
• Nightlife Guide
• Metro map to print

Paris Tours

Find a selection of best city tours, skipe the line, Paris pass and private tours.

• Paris top sellers tours
• Paris city Pass
• Cruises tours
• Best private tours

Copyright © 2012 paris-paris-paris.com and its content partners. All rights reserved in all formats known and unknown. This site and domain are not affiliated with or owned by any government or municipal authority. paris-paris-paris.com is a publication of World Media Group, LLC. and Barcelona.com, Inc.

Paris Tourist Taxes Skyrocket Ahead of 2024 Olympics

Dawit Habtemariam , Skift

January 4th, 2024 at 8:46 AM EST

The world's most popular tourist destination is becoming a bit pricier.

Dawit Habtemariam

Travelers heading to Paris better be ready to pay higher tourist taxes on their hotel rooms and alternative accommodations this year.

On January 1, tourist taxes on travel stays more than doubled. The tourist tax hikes come as Paris prepares to host the Olympics this summer.

Below is an overview of the tourist tax hikes.

Tourism to Paris Definitely Won’t Be Cheap

Some tour operators are seeing their room rates rise this year due to the Olympics.

“For any hotel contracts that we’ve been able to renew, we’re seeing year-over-year increases starting at 20% in the weeks leading up to the Olympics,” said Jason Susinski, director of product for Kensington Tours .

Some of Paris’s tourist attractions are also bumping up their prices. Starting January 15, the entrance fee to the Louvre will rise to about $24 (€22). According to the museum, that’s its first price increase in 8 years.

Susinski said tour guides in Paris are also now charging more.

“We’re also seeing local guides increase the cost of their guiding services, in some cases as much as 20% over last year,” he said.

Paris was labeled the “world’s most powerful city destination” in 2023 by the World Travel and Tourism Council . Its travel and tourism sector was worth almost $36 billion in 2022.

The Daily Newsletter

Our daily coverage of the global travel industry. Written by editors and analysts from across Skift’s brands.

Have a confidential tip for Skift? Get in touch

Tags: france , paris , Paris 2024 Olympics , tourism

Saturday, May 18, 2024

Tourism Review

Respected Voice of Tourism

• Weekly Travel News

TOURIST TAX GUIDE IN PARIS

The tourist tax is a French tax which can be requested by the municipalities with tourist vocation from their holidaymakers. The purpose of this tax is to help local councils to finance their expenses related to tourist numbers and the protection of natural areas for holidaymakers.

The tourist tax can be collected by the municipality in two ways: in a real way or in a fixed way. It is paid in real terms by the holidaymaker to the place of accommodation (hotel, owner, landlord, etc.) or to the Internet site used to make the reservation, according to the number of nights of the stay and the category of accommodation. The total amount of tourist taxes collected by hoteliers, owners and landlords is then paid back to the municipality at the end of the collection period.

How much is the tourist tax in Paris?

The Paris Council, which has the powers of both a city council and a departmental council, raised the amount of the tourist tax in the capital in early 2015. Taking into account the additional departmental tax of 10%, the net rates per night in force in 2022 are as follows:

• Palaces: 4 euros
• 5-star tourist hotels, 5-star tourist residences, 5-star furnished tourist accommodation: 3 euros
• 4-star tourist hotels, 4-star tourist residences, 4-star furnished tourist accommodation: 2.30 euros
• 3-star tourist hotels, 3-star tourist residences, 3-star furnished tourist accommodation: 1.50 euros
• 2-star tourist hotels, 2-star tourist residences, 2-star furnished tourist accommodation, 4 and 5-star holiday villages: 0.90 euros
• 1-star tourist hotels, 1-star tourist residences, 1-star furnished tourist accommodation, 1, 2 and 3-star holiday villages, guest rooms, collective hostels: 0.80 euros

Do I have to pay tourist tax with Airbnb?

As the flat-rate tourist tax must also apply to individuals renting out all or part of their personal homes, Airbnb is legally obliged to collect the tourist tax from its guests, before paying it back to the various municipalities. Since August 1, 2016, Airbnb has been collecting tourist tax in 20 cities in France.

How do I know the amount of the tourist tax? And at the hotel?

The rate of the tourist tax may not exceed 4.00 euros per night, excluding the additional tax of 10% that may be requested by the department of the commune. The exact amount of the tax per night is set by each municipal council in accordance with the minimum and maximum rate ranges established by the State for each category of accommodation. Therefore, to know the exact amount of the tourist tax, it is recommended to use the dedicated website of the tax authorities. Simply enter your municipality or department to access the rates in force.

Who does not have to pay the tourist tax?

The exemptions from the tourist tax do not apply according to the type of accommodation. All accommodation is subject to the tax: palaces, tourist hotels, tourist residences, furnished tourist accommodation or holiday rentals between individuals, bed and breakfast, holiday villages, open-air accommodation and marinas. On the other hand, the following people do not have to pay the tourist tax:

• A child under the age of 18
• A person on a seasonal contract and employed in the commune
• The recipient of emergency accommodation
• A person who occupies premises where the rent is less than an amount fixed by the council

Related articles

The registration number becomes mandatory to rent a parisian apartment through airbnb, how do tourist taxes work in france, paris attracts crowds despite soaring hotel prices, booking.com to pay 1.2 million euros to the city of paris, summer: about 13 million tourists visited paris, touring paris and its african history, add comment.

• {{message}}

DUBAI ATTRACTED 5.1 MILLION INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS IN Q1

Moroccan tourism continues to rise despite rising prices, is mexico a safe tourist destination, hong kong struggles to attract chinese tourists, latest reviews, tourism review online magazine 1 / 2023, tourism review online magazine 1 / 2022, tourism review online magazine 1 / 2021.

Javascript est desactivé dans votre navigateur.

République Française

Entreprendre .Service-Public.fr

Le site officiel d'information administrative pour les entreprises

• Accéder au site pour les particuliers

Sélectionnez une commune dans la liste des suggestions

Une erreur est survenue pendant la recherche, merci de réessayer.

This page has been automatically translated. Please refer to the page in French if needed.

Share the page

Link copied

Tourist tax: what are the rates?

Verified 01 January 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of Economy

Discount on an amount payable.

The municipality or the EPCI : titleContent may decide to apply a tourist tax ( real tourist tax or flat-rate tourist tax ). The decision must be made before 1 er July to apply from 1  er January of the following year. The decision also determines the criteria of the tax, such as the collection period (tourist season) or the amount applicable depending on the nature and classification of the accommodation.

What is the tourist tax?

A commune or a EPCI : titleContent may decide to apply:

• Let's say one real tourist tax , which is collected per person hosted,
• Let's say one flat-rate tourist tax , which is levied per tourist accommodation.

The municipality or EPCI shall define the characteristics of the tax, including the following:

• Period during which the tourist tax applies
• Amount of tourist tax, by type of accommodation. This amount must be decided before the beginning of the period during which the tax applies. It must be fixed within the limits of a minimum and a maximum tariff updated each year (tariff schedule).
• Whether or not a abatement on the number of accommodation units. The abatement rate must be between 10% and 80% .

How to calculate the tourist tax?

Tariff schedule applicable in 2023.

City tax rates are adopted by the city council or the legislative body of an EPCI, taking into account a scale that is increased each year:

Calculation of the real tourist tax

To calculate the real tourist tax due, the rate applicable to each category of accommodation must be multiplied by the number of overnight stays and then by the number of taxable persons.

The tax collected for the stay of 2 adults for 2 nights in a 2-star hotel is maximum:

2 x 2 x  €0.90  =  €3.60

Calculation of the tourist tax for the package

To calculate the flat-rate tourist tax due, there is a need to multiply

• Rate applicable to the accommodation category per accommodation unit
• Number of nights included both in the period of opening of the accommodation and in the period of collection of the tax
• Accommodation capacity

A tourist hotel has the following characteristics:

• Rated 2 stars. The rate applied per unit of capacity is €0.90 .
• Maximum capacity of 50 beds. It benefits from a discount of 30% .
• Open 183 nights during the period of collection of the tourist tax.

The calculation is as follows:

• Capacity after abatement: 50 - 30% = (50 - (50 x 30)/100) = 50 - 15 = 35
• Flat-rate tourist tax per year: €0.90 x 35 x 183 = €5,764.50 per year.

Calculation of the tourist tax for accommodation awaiting classification

When the accommodation is waiting to be ranked or not ranked (except outdoor accommodation), a rate must be applied.

In 2023, the adopted rate is between 1% and 5% .

It shall apply per person per overnight stay up to the highest rate adopted by the community. The cost of the overnight stay corresponds to the price of the accommodation service excluding taxes.

How do I know the amount of the tourist tax per municipality?

To find out the amount of the tourist tax charged in a municipality, you can use this online service:

Tourist tax rates per municipality

Statute and miscellaneous references

General code of local and regional authorities: Articles L2333-26 to L2333-47

Tourist tax on the real and the package 

General code of local and regional authorities: Articles R2333-43 to R2333-57

General code of regional and local authorities: Article L5211-21

Decision to apply an inter-municipal residence tax

General code of regional and local authorities: Article R5211-6

Online services and forms

Search tools

Additional topics

Tourist accommodation tax

Tourist tax

Ministry of Economy

Owner's Guide: Renting Furnished Tourists (PDF - 3.2 MB)

Ministry of the Environment

Public institution for inter-municipal cooperation

Latest News

BestPrice travel to promote the image of Vietnam at New York’s times square

How private MCAT tutors address specific weaknesses or areas of improvement for medical school applicants

Marriott International celebrates the 2024 J. Willard Marriott Awards of Excellence honorees

Landal GreenParks UK sees big growth in inbound holiday market

Next generation leaders earn their seat at the table at IMEX Frankfurt

RDB Hospitality expands luxury services with addition of Lenox VIP Global

Ronald Leitch appointed Chief Operating Officer of AGS Airports

NH Collection’s debut in Finland continues a proud legacy of legendary hospitality

Deepak Chopra aboard SH Diana in New York as Swan Hellenic announces two new “Explore & Restore” cruises in Brazil

VisitEngland joins forces with AccessAble to promote new tourism accessibility guides

What is the tourist city tax and who is charging it?

By reading this article, you will find out exactly what a tourist city tax is, who is charging it, and, more importantly, why is it being charged?

If you’ve recently visited Europe, you might have been asked to pay a tourist city tax. Most travelers out there wonder if this practice is legal, as they don’t know exactly what it means. However, there is a large number of European countries and cities that have implemented this so-called tourist city tax. 

Therefore, we are here to answer all of your questions related to it. By reading this article, you will find out exactly what a tourist city tax is, who is charging it, and, more importantly, why is it being charged? 

Without any further ado, let’s get right into it!

The history of the tourist city tax Up until recently, people didn’t actually realize they were charged a tourist city tax. Yes, that’s true, you were probably being charged with one of these fees if you have visited Europe in the past 20 years. 

Reportedly, the city of Paris introduced a fee similar to what we know today as tourist city tax way back in 1994. At that time, plenty of other countries, such as Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Greece, and the Netherlands, were charging this fee. 

The reason for which nobody was noticing is that it was actually incorporated in the accommodation price. So, if you ever thought that the prices seem a little bit inflated, it was because of this fee. 

However, things have evolved, and apartment stays and B&B services appeared on the market out of a sudden. Let’s see how this fact influenced the tourist city tax and made it be excluded out of the accommodation price and actually charged in cash when a customer is leaving a certain hotel. 

The reason behind the tourist city tax First of all, it is entirely legal – therefore, don’t worry; you haven’t been scammed if you were asked to pay such a fee. According to various sources, the tourist city tax was implemented because of the poor economy of some countries and cities. 

As the state of the economy was decreasing, the municipalities of some cities were having a hard time maintaining the infrastructure of the respective cities. Therefore, they came up with a fee that applies to non-residents, in order to alleviate some of the problems they were facing. 

For example, in Milano, the tax has been in force since the 1st of September 2012. One of the regional laws that describe this fee states that hotels and non-hotels are both seen as accommodation facilities and, therefore, they should demand such fee from their customers. 

So, you are likely to be charged such a fee if you stay in hotels, motels, and touristic residences. Moreover, you can also be charged if you rent a vacation home, a mountain hut, a hiking shelter, apartments, or stay in youth hostels, or any type of outdoor accommodations. 

How is the tourist city tax applied? Usually, the fees apply to one person and for one day of stay. You will most likely be asked to pay this tax in cash, at the moment you check-out out of your accommodation.   In Rome, for example, the tax changes according to the type of accommodation you are staying in. If you have a room in a 3-star hotel, you will have to pay two Euros per person, per night. However, if you stay in a 4- or 5-star hotel, you will have to pay three Euros per person, per night. 

On the other hand, in Amsterdam, Berlin, and Cologne, the tourist city tax is 5% of your hotel room bill. Moreover, you might be required to pay such a fee for your children as well – but Italy does not usually charge individuals that are under 14 or 16 years old. 

It’s important to remember that the tourist city tax has to be paid for a maximum of ten nights spent in a certain hotel or type of accommodation that charges this fee. That said, if you book a multiday tour with accommodation stays etc. on tour and holiday booking portal such as Bookmundi, the price they list is included includes Tourist City Tax. 

Furthermore, not only European countries seem to be affected by this tax. We say affected because a lot of people don’t realize that they were going to pay it anyway, even if it was hidden in the accommodation price or not. Reportedly, Dubai and America have also introduced tourist city taxes. 

Where does the tourist city tax go? As we mentioned before, the municipality of the city is responsible for the city tax – they charge it and they take it. We also said that the money resulted from the tourist city tax is used to fix certain economic problems. It is usually used to support and develop the local tourist industry, while in some countries, the money is used to raise revenue for government departments that have been hard-pressed.

Therefore, you don’t have to think wrong of the tourist city tax, as in most countries, it is used to improve your stay there. For example, in Catalonia, Spain, this tax has helped raise around 126 million Euros – which has been equally split between town halls, local tourism boards, and the Catalan Tourism Agency. 

The bottom line So, now you know exactly what a tourist city tax is – it’s basically a fee that you’ve always been paying if you’ve visited some popular European cities and is used to support the development of tourism in those areas. 

Most tourists are quite scared about this tax, but for no reason at all. It’s true, we don’t like the fact that we’re being charged a fee just because we are tourists, but this is how things work and this is how local accommodation communities get the support they need, especially if they are located in countries with a poor economy. 

For example, take a look at Greece, a country that’s been in economic crisis and recovering from it for a long time. It is one of the most beautiful countries in the world and the accommodation there is quite cheap as well – we wouldn’t mind having to pay some extra euros to support it, right? 

We hope that our article made you understand better the purpose of this tourist city tax so that the next time you are asked for one you don’t get all confused and you can just enjoy your stay!

Stavros Andriopoulos

• Stavros Andriopoulos https://www.traveldailynews.com/author/stavros-andriopoulos/ Secret havens: Unlocking hidden gems of the luxury world with VIP access
• Stavros Andriopoulos https://www.traveldailynews.com/author/stavros-andriopoulos/ Meet Porto Angeli Beach Resort and Olympic Palace Resort in Rhodes island, Greece
• Stavros Andriopoulos https://www.traveldailynews.com/author/stavros-andriopoulos/ The pros of visiting land-based casinos during your travels
• Stavros Andriopoulos https://www.traveldailynews.com/author/stavros-andriopoulos/ Planning a trip to China with kids

Related posts

Previous post, str: emea, central/south america hotel performance for august 2018, new bedford harbor hotel joins the ascend hotel collection.

eSIM Go launches global travel eSIM service in partnership with SWISS

Impress your Airbnb guest on their next vacation

McDreams becomes Europe’s first hotel group to roll out 100% AI-powered phone system integrated with Like Magic

Europeans defy costs and conflicts to embrace travel in Summer 2024

SAS expands connectivity to Scandibavian Winter destinations

airBaltic and Bulgaria Air start codeshare cooperation

Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort opens its doors on the shores of Ras Al Khaimah

Prague Airport and Korean Air celebrate two decades of Seoul connection

Understanding Nevada’s modified comparative negligence law

Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance welcomes ICCA as its newest Alliance partner

BEONx and JUYO Analytics partner to streamline data access for hoteliers

Good Travel Management announces strategic partnership with Trinity Event Solutions

Finnair resumes flights to Tartu

Afreximbank funds $30m. for Silversands Hotel expansion in Grenada

AMG survey reveals consensus on importance of training but not on how to develop new advisor talent

“Tauck On Tour” events coming to UK travel advisors this Fall

Global Travel Marketplace expands and rebrands as Connecting Travel Marketplace

Sporting events elevated Madrid hotel performance in April

easyJet to open 10th UK base at London Southend Airport next spring signalling continued UK growth

Middle East hotel construction pipeline rises to 612 projects/144,222 rooms at Q1 2024

The Vinoy Resort and Golf Club hires Chris Major as Golf and Club Operations GM

IEG: The Board of Directors approves the consolidated interim report as of March 31, 2024 – Revenues at 88.9m. euros

U.S. Travel applauds passage of Long-term FAA Renewal Bill

Travel and tourism sector deal activity down by 13.5% YoY in January-April 2024, finds GlobalData

THE WELL appoints Zeev Sharon as Chief Development Officer to lead integrated wellness brand’s global expansion

Icelandair transported more than one million passengers this year

Qatar hotel market sees significant performance boost during Eid al-Fitr

New research highlights toll of business travel on mental health and a need for more support from employers

Avianca will only transport passengers aged 14 or younger who travel with their parents or a responsible adult

CEIR releases Q1 2024 index results, growth of U.S. B2B exhibition industry continues

Luxury digital concierge company The Prelude to hit $20m in first year sales

Celebrity Cruises’ revolutionary ship Celebrity Apex homeports in Southampton for first-ever season from the UK

Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department launches new “Find Yourself in Oklahoma” campaign

Transportation methods from Alicante airport to Benidorm

Oceania Cruises launches innovative and free marketing solution for trade partners

TAAG assumes exclusive operation od the Luanda – Lisbon route with its international fleet

Hotel rewards programs are going greener, extending across brands, new report finds

Pegasus launches direct route from Istanbul to Bratislava

MIA starts 2024 with record growth and an A+ bond rating

Time Out Market to open in Budapest

JW Marriott and Flamingo Estate debut a global brand partnership to guide travelers on a sensorial journey rooted in well-being

Yuppi Group leverages Turkish destination specialism to launch B2B hotel platform Pax2Night

Reputable merchant advance companies for business owners

Best April in Katowice Airport’s history

Erna Solberg named Havila Pollux

Soaring passenger traffic, longer stays: Mastercard Economics Institute on travel in 2024

Consistency in differentiation: How GCC is building the future of their travel destinations

Carnival Corporation rolls out SpaceX’s innovative Starlink across entire global fleet

Dream Yacht Sales welcomes Jeremy Tutt as Global Yacht Sales Director

Tribute Portfolio debuts in the United Arab Emirates with The First Collection at Jumeirah Village Circle, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

Wellness real estate market reached $438bn. in 2023 and is forecast to more than double to $913bn. by 2028

Sojern expands its guest experience solutions to Europe 

Waymore’s Guest House & Casual Club announces new General Manager

Forty-five percent of the hotel projects in Europe’s total pipeline are under construction at the end of Q1 2024

New Grill Room General Manager and Sommelier at The Windsor Court Team

Corazón Cabo Resort & Spa appoints new Director of Sales and Catering

Travel demand remains resilient in Q2 2024: TUI achieves record revenue of 3.6bn euros

First Club Med in the Middle East announced, $100 million development

Higher Lake Mead water levels bolster business for marina, boating operator

Elevate your travel experience with essential tech on a budget

Google rolls out enhanced AI-driven travel planning features

Game changers: Trends shaping college sports today

VisitScotland Connect 2024 hailed a success

Fraport Group continues growth in First Quarter of 2024 

Travelport and WestJet confirm new long-term Content agreement

Sights of Belek you must visit

How to make the most of your trip to Napa Valley

South Western Railway hosted the rail industry’s first national safeguarding conference

Sabre Corporation reinforces partnership with ACI blueteam Spa with new contract

Trip.com Group and Rezdy join forces to offer new travel experiences around the world

The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco appoints new General Manager

Berlin celebrates five years of Sustainable Meetings Berlin at IMEX

Over 200,000 additional seats from Shannon Airport this summer to destinations across Europe and the USA 

Destination DC highlights impactful role in hosting global meetings at IMEX Frankfurt

WTTC and IC Bellagio partner for new consumer campaign

PCMA and The Strategic Alliance of the National Convention Bureaux of Europe announced Convene 4 Climate

Hotel Equities selected to manage first Hampton by Hilton-branded hotel in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Abra Group reaches agreement for strategic investment in Wamos Air

Chisinau International Airport will be the host of the International Aviation Conference

Mews acquires HS3 Hotelsoftware to bolster German expansion

Paradies Lagardère announces Q1 restaurant openings at Atlanta, Boston and Oklahoma City Airports

Generation Voyage monetizes content through affiliate sales powered by Stay22 

Celestyal finalises agreement with Abu Dhabi and AD Ports Group

New dates for Essence of Africa, the continent’s premier buyer forum

LanzaJet announces Doreen Pryor as Chief Financial Officer

Neptune Luxury Resort announces culinary collaboration with acclaimed Italian chef Salvatore Andolina

Fontainebleau Miami Beach to unveil all-new coastal convention center in Q4 2024

Cvent announces Top Meeting Destinations and Top Meeting Hotels in Europe for 2024

Prague remains among world’s most sought-after meeting destinations

Over 260 applications from 60+ countries: Best Tourism Villages 2024 adventure kicks off

Seychelles and Mauritius Tourism met at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai

IRF and SITE, along with research partner Oxford Economics, launch 2024 edition of incentive travel survey

Explore Worldwide furthers expansion in North America with new team and Toronto office

Colletts Travel evolves with reservation module new technology from Dolphin Dynamics

Skyscanner launches Savvy Search – its new generative AI travel planning tool

BCD Meetings & Events launches three-year strategic plan following momentus growth

RiminiWellness 2024: Shaping the future of wellness and fitness industry

Traveloka becomes first Platinum Sponsor of GSTC to promote sustainable tourism

The Brunelleschi Hotel gets the prestigious Michelin Key

Minor Hotels appoints Lokesh Kumar as Vice President of Development for the Middle East

onefinestay unveils villas in Provence

Outdoorsy launches weather guarantees for RV rentals with “Roamly Weather by Sensible”

UK awards Alain St.Ange the “Nelson Mandela Leadership Award”

Resorts World Cruises to homeport in the Arabian Gulf

Dondra Ritzenthaler Takes the Helm as Chief Executive Officer of Azamara Cruises

Storrington Collective is appointed to handle the UK Public Relations for the entire Cotton Lifestyle Group

ATL Airport District appoints Rylee Govoreau as Sales Manager

Aeronology accepted into global luxury travel group Virtuoso

The world of travel and tourism: A journey through cultures and destinations

Grace La Margna St Moritz joins American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts

Digital Markets Act: European Commission designates Booking.com as gatekeeper

Al Ansari Exchange signs a strategic partnership with Etihad Airways

ASM Global Europe to open four new UK venues by 2027 

Oman’s Travel & Tourism sector predicted to reach new heights in 2024, says WTTC report

Air Serbia launches contest for company mascot

Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas begins tests at sea

Traveazy Group unveils the future of B2B travel solutions at ATM 2024

Aena’s airports in Spain registered more than 25.6 million passengers in April

Qatar’s Travel & Tourism sector achieves record growth in 2024

Casablanca: A must-visit destination in 2024 according to TripAdvisor

Caribbean Week 2024 set to sparkle in New York City

BLS International secures visa outsourcing contract with Portuguese Embassy in Morocco

Caribbean tourism flourishes: Insights from CHTA at CHRIS 2024 Summit

OsaBus invested 1m. euros in new buses to expand services in Barcelona

Illinois Office of Tourism announces international visitor growth in 2023

Hyatt doubles down on Latin America growth with 30+ planned openings through 2027

The Emirates Group achieved record profits and revenue in 2023-24, driven by robust demand and strategic global expansion

Mondee Holdings announces record Q1 2024 financial results, highlighting AI-driven growth in the travel sector

The Vines Resort & Spa announce villa expansion

HyperPay showcased innovative hospitality service at Arabian Travel Market 2024

Ethiopian Airlines Group assumes management role for Ethiopia’s new Legacy Lodges through Ethiopian Skylight Hotel

ACI World welcomes new Vice Presidents to lead Events & Commercial Services, and Safety, Security, and Operations

Traveling with white snus: A guide to regulations and recommendations

Understanding wrongful deaths from a legal perspective: A guide

Portugal’s Travel & Tourism poised for historic year, says WTTC

TravelgateX returns to CON-X 2024 with a new concept, “Enough, redefined”: Pushing the boundaries in the travel industry and technology

Why the USA is the perfect host for the World Cup

Six tips for becoming a travel influencer on Instagram

Iberostar announces re-opening of 5* Iberostar Selection Creta Marine following 3 year renovation

Three smart tech must-haves for a bleisure trip

Bud & Marilyn’s takes home title of “2024 Merchant of the Year”

Introducing DEOS: A new vision of luxury by the Myconian Collection

Delta Air Lines operates its Prague – New York route again

Emirates return to Edinburgh Airport, Pegasus starts twice weekly flights to Istanbul

British Airways announces the launch of its new Customer Access Advisory Panel

Air India strengthens presence in Europe with additional flights to Amsterdam, Milan and Copenhagen

Ryanair extends Trinity College Dublin partnership to 2030

Redefining luxury in the Middle East: Insights from Arabian Travel Market 2024

Sheen Falls Lodge partners with Seabody for enhanced wellness experience

UN Tourism puts spotlight on investments and empowerment at AIM Congress

IAG reports strong First Quarter, forecasts positive outlook for 2024

Amsa Hospitality and Radisson Hotel Group extend partnership with the signing of Radisson Hotel Madinah set to open this year

Alaska Airlines launches new way for guests to join the journey to help make air travel more sustainable

Copthorne Hotel Aberdeen unveils major renovations

Top-performing airlines set themselves apart with friendly staff, J.D. Power finds

Hilton announces Dale MacPhee as General Manager of Conrad Washington, DC

Bardessono Hotel & Spa in Napa Valley unveils $1.8m. guestroom renovations

Mews and YouLend partner to launch “Flexible Financing” for hospitality expansion

British Airways Holidays unveils 2024 travel trends influencing UK consumers

Daniel Alexander of Tanjung Kelayang Reserve in Indonesia and President of MTPA met Seychelles Consultant Alain St.Ange at ATM in Dubai

InterLnkd crowned winner of the ATM 2024 Start-up Pitch Battle, held in association with Intelak

airBaltic lunches direct flights from Riga to Skopje, Chisinau, and Pristina

El Cortez Hotel & Casino announces plans to enhance casino

JW Marriott Chicago unveils reimagined event space

Cloud5 appoints Frank Ziller as Chief Technology Officer  

Vingcard enhances hotel security with MIFARE Ultralight AES compatibility

Authenticity and Innovation at the forefront of CityDNA’s “Reality Check!” Conference

Travel entrepreneur and startup funding is growing in the Middle East but more investment is needed, say industry experts at ATM 2024

Paris Tourist Tax Surges Ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics Sparked Outrage among Parisians and Visitors Alike

• January 13, 2024 May 2, 2024
• by The Hotel Focus Team

Cover Photo: Luca Dugaro

As Paris gears up to host the highly anticipated 2024 Summer Olympics, travelers planning to visit the City of Lights may face a double whammy in the form of a significant increase in tourist taxes and a surge in hotel prices.

Paris Raises Tourist Tax for 2024 Olympics

What is tourist tax and why do some cities charge it.

The tourist tax, known as the taxe de séjour in French, is a levy that visitors are required to pay on top of their hotel or accommodation fees. This tax is used to fund various municipal projects, including transportation improvements, cultural initiatives, and environmental programs.

Why Did the City Increase the Tourist Tax?

In 2024, the tourist tax in Paris is set to undergo a substantial hike, with rates soaring by up to 100% for some accommodations. The tax increase is expected to generate an additional 150 million euros ($164 million) in revenue for the city, which is preparing to host the 2024 Summer Olympics. The city hopes that the extra funds will help cover the costs of organizing the event as well as improving the infrastructure and public services for the residents and visitors to accommodate the influx of Olympic visitors.

How much will hotel tax increase, for visitors to Paris?

The new tourist tax rates will vary depending on the type of accommodation as well as the location within the city. In Paris, the tax rate used to range from €0.25 a night for the most basic accommodation to €5 a night for luxurious establishments. The new rates range from €2.60 per person per night for stays in 1-star accommodations to a whopping €14.95 per person per night for stays in palaces. Here’s a breakdown of the new rates:

• Palaces: €14.95 per night, per person
• 5-star hotels: €10.73 per night, per person
• 4-star hotels: €8.13 per night, per person
• 3-star hotels: €5.20 per night, per person
• 2-star hotels: €3.25 per night, per person
• 1-star hotels: €2.60 per night, per person

More details on the Paris tourist tax are available on the taxedesejour.paris.fr website (in French).

Record High Hotel Rates Expected

In addition to the tax increase, hotel prices in Paris are also expected to reach record highs during the Olympic period. This is due to the limited availability of accommodations and the high demand from both domestic and international visitors. Some hotels are already offering rates that are up to 300% higher than their usual prices.

The combined impact of the tourist tax increase and soaring hotel prices is likely to make Paris a more expensive destination for travelers in 2024. This could deter some visitors, particularly those on a tight budget. However, for those who are willing to pay the extra cost, Paris will still offer an unforgettable experience during the Olympic Games.

How to Beat the Tourist Tax and Hotel Price Hike?

Here are some tips for minimizing the impact of the increased tourist tax and hotel prices:

• Plan your trip well in advance: Booking your accommodation and flights as early as possible is essential to securing the best possible rates.
• Consider staying outside of the city center: Accommodation options outside of the central tourist areas tend to be more affordable.
• Take advantage of discounts and promotions: Many hotels and attractions offer discounts to visitors during the off-season or on specific days of the week.
• Embrace public transportation: Utilize Paris’s extensive public transportation system to get around, saving on transportation costs and reducing the need for expensive taxis or car rentals.
• Take Advantage of Free Activities: Paris offers a wealth of free attractions and activities, such as strolling through the Jardin du Luxembourg, visiting the Louvre ‘s free galleries, or enjoying outdoor concerts and performances.

Despite the increased costs, Paris remains a captivating destination with a wealth of attractions to offer visitors, including the iconic Eiffel Tower . With careful planning and smart budgeting, it’s still possible to enjoy a memorable and affordable trip to the City of Lights during the Olympic year. Don’t miss out on the best deals, and book your Paris hotels now on Booking.com in advance.

Free Paris Hotel Guide 2024: Download Now!

Unlock your exclusive guide to the Best New Hotels in Paris for 2024. Simply fill out our subscription form, and we’ll instantly send you a link to the free digital brochure, packed with stunning visuals and details on each hotel. Plus, you’ll receive an email with the link for easy reference.

Don’t miss out on the best new hotel launches. Be the first to know!

Subscribe to our newsletter!

Get insider news delivered straight to your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy .

Trending Articles

Say Goodbye to Airport Stress! 4 Hottest, Modern, and New Hotels Just Opened Near Paris Roissy CDG Airport!

Parisian airport secrets revealed! These 4 best new hotels just landed near Paris CDG Airport.

5 Amazing New Hotels Near Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe in Paris

Luxury awaits on the Champs-Élysées: Discover Paris’ newest hotels near Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe.

Record-Breaking Picnic Extravaganza on the Champs-Élysées: Apply Now to Be Part of a Historic Feast on Paris’s Iconic Avenue

A world-record picnic on the Champs-Élysées? Free gourmet food for only 4,000 guests! Register now! #grandpiqueniquedeschampselysees

7 New Hotels with Unforgettable Eiffel Tower Views for 2024

If you’re visiting Paris, you’ll want to stay in one of the new hotels with Eiffel Tower Views. These are the 7 best new hotels that you must stay at.

8 Buzzing New Hotels Near Palais Garnier and Galeries Lafayette in Paris 2024

Luxury by the Palais Garnier: 8 top new hotels perfect for your Parisian Olympics getaway!

12 Best New Hotels in Paris 2024 to Make Your Stay Unforgettable

Discover the 12 most anticipated new hotels in Paris, opening in 2024, with luxury, charm, and chic. Find out which one is right for you, and book now.

Trending Hotels

Hôtel Balzac Paris: A Symphony of Opulence – 6 Reasons to Stay

Eiffel Tower Views, Michelin Magic, Parisian Past… June 2024’s Hottest Hotel Hype or Dream Escape? Click to unlock the truth!

Hôtel Grand Cœur Latin: Modern Parisian Escape near Luxembourg Gardens & Pantheon – 3 Reasons to Stay

A secret Parisian escape! New modern rooms; walk to Jardin du Luxembourg and Paris Panthéon!

Simplifying French tourist taxes with our online calculator and API.

• Tax Calculator
• OCSITAN Data

Welcome to sejour.tax A quick and easy way to view and calculate French tourism taxes.

Our calculator uses the data collected in the OCSITAN application. The current file in use here is version 2.1.2 , dated 10/10/2023 .

Finally be visible!

YOUR ADVERTISEMENT HERE

Details and rates

Choose language

Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

The best things in life are free.

Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush).

Déjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

• Things to Do
• Food & Drink
• Arts & Culture
• Time Out Market
• Coca-Cola Foodmarks
• Los Angeles

Get us in your inbox

🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!

These two popular European cities are set to become much more expensive to visit

One will soon have the highest tourist tax within the EU

The cost of travel, like the cost of pretty much everything, only seems to be on the up. Sure, you can still bag a bargain flight or sneakily scour Airbnb for a deal, but travelling on a budget tends to take time and effort. 

Add to that the tourist tax, another expense to travellers that’s becoming more and more common. But while the news of another fee being added to the list of holiday expenses might be frustrating, it’s all done with good intentions. 

Paris is set to increase its tourist tax. As it stands, visitors to the French capital currently pay between €0.25 (22p, $0.26) and €5 (£4.30, $5.30) per night, depending on their accommodation type and the area of the city they’re staying in. 

The tax applies to those staying in tourist residences, hotels and outdoor accommodation such as tents and caravans. The proposed increase, which is due to be implemented from 2024, could see the nightly fee rise by 200 percent. For example, the nightly fee for a double room in a five-star hotel could be up to €11 (£9.50, $11.56).

The extra cash generated from the tax will apparently be put towards improving the city’s public transport (and hopefully some fumigators for the bedbugs ). 

Amsterdam is the other European city upping its visitor fees, with an increase of 12.5 percent on the cards from 2024 for those staying in the city overnight or visiting on a cruise ship. 

The average tax per traveller per night will increase from €15.25 (£13.17, $16.03) to €21.80 (£18.83, $22.91), and for cruise passengers, from €8 (£6.90, $8.41) to €11 (£9.50, $11.56). 

Much like Paris, the money accumulated from this fee will be funnelled back into improving the city and easing the financial pressure on residents, who might have had their property taxes or parking fees increased otherwise. 

In a statement , the city said it was increasing to ‘so that visitors [can] make a bigger contribution to the city … [It] will also help tackle overtourism and mean that the financial burden for Amsterdammers and Weespers will not increase.’

According to DutchNews , this is now the highest tourist tax within the European Union, and the fourth highest in the world.  

The rise of the tourist tax

Amsterdam and Paris aren’t the only destinations to implement a tourist tax –  Venice , Iceland , and Bali  have all recently announced they’re upping the fees for visitors. Tourist taxes are one way popular travel destinations can combat problems with overtourism. From asking visitors to stay away to capping daily numbers, read up on all  the ways tourist hotspots are keeping overtourism at bay . 

Did you see that ‘personal carbon allowances’ could restrict how often we travel ?

Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news.

• Liv Kelly Contributing Writer

Share the story

An email you’ll actually love

Discover Time Out original video

• Press office
• Investor relations
• Work for Time Out
• Editorial guidelines
• Privacy notice
• Do not sell my information
• Cookie policy
• Accessibility statement
• Terms of use
• Modern slavery statement
• Manage cookies
• Advertising

Time Out Worldwide

• All Time Out Locations
• North America
• South America
• South Pacific

Why you should expect to pay more tourist taxes – even though the evidence for them is unclear

Senior Lecturer in Economics, Bangor University

Senior Lecturer in Tourism Management, Bangor University

Disclosure statement

Rhys ap Gwilym has received funding from Welsh Government to conduct research relating to various devolved taxes, including the proposed visitor levy.

Linda Osti has received funding from Welsh Government to conduct research relating to the proposed visitor levy.

Bangor University provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK.

View all partners

In April 2024, Venice began its controversial experiment to charge day trippers €5 (£4.30) to visit the city on some of the busiest days of the year. But it’s not just the lagoon city, with its 30 million visitors a year which is interested in trying out new tourism taxes.

In the UK, a council in the county of Kent has recommended introducing a tourism tax on overnight stays in the county. In Scotland, it seems likely that visitors to Edinburgh will be paying a fee by 2026, and the Welsh government plans to introduce similar legislation later this year.

Such taxes may seem new to the UK, but there are more than 60 destinations around the world where this type of tax is already in place. These vary from a nationwide tax in Iceland to various towns across the US. Some have been in place for a long time (France was the first in 1910 ), but most were introduced during the last decade or two.

Before the pandemic really struck (and tourism was put on hold), 2020 was described by one newspaper as the “year of the tourist tax” , as Amsterdam joined an ever-growing list of destinations, which includes Paris, Malta and Cancun, to charge visitors for simply visiting.

Introducing these tourist taxes has often been controversial, with industry bodies voicing concerns about the potential impacts on the tourist trade.

And it appears that the link between such levies and visitor numbers is not simple, with several studies reaching different conclusions. For example, some have suggested that tourism levies have hindered international tourism in the Balearics and the Maldives , and that they may dissuade people from participating in domestic tourism .

Yet in one of the world’s most popular tourism spots with a levy, Barcelona, visitor numbers have consistently risen , with hotel guests increasing from 7.1 million in 2013 to 9.5 million in 2019.

In fact, the relationship between a visitor levy and tourist flow is so complex that there is no unified view, even within the same country. Italy has been one of the most studied, and results are inconsistent there too .

Another study, looking at three neighbouring Italian seaside spots finds that only in one destination has the visitor levy reduced tourist flow . And a study on the Italian cities of Rome, Florence and Padua shows that these cities have not experienced any negative effects either in terms of domestic or international demand.

So the impact of tourism taxes on visitor numbers is inconclusive.

But what about other effects, such as the potential benefits of spending the revenues raised? As part of an ongoing research project, we looked at seven different destinations in which tourist taxes are levied to look at how the money raised is then spent.

For most places, tourism tax revenues were being used to fund marketing and branding – so invested directly into promoting more tourism. The income was also commonly used to fund tourism infrastructure, from public toilets and walking or cycling paths to a multi-billion dollar convention centre in Orange County, Florida.

In the Balearics , revenues tend to go to projects that mitigate the negative impacts of tourism on the environment, culture and society of the islands. These include waste management, conserving natural habitats and historical monuments, and social housing.

But in general, tourism taxes have been implemented successfully across the destinations we looked at, and there is little evidence of tourists being put off from visiting.

Research also suggests that when tourists are told what the levy is used for – and when it relates directly to improving their experience or enhancing sustainable tourism – tourists are willing to accept and pay the levy.

Day trippers

For many tourism destinations, the major problem is not overnight tourists, but rather day visitors who use local resources while making little in the way of a financial contribution. For these reasons, taxes might also be used to deter day visits and instead encourage longer stays.

Venice is at the forefront of this shift. And in April 2024, after long discussions between the local authority, residents and business owners, Venice started a trial of a day visitor tax (a so-called “access fee” ).

Read more: An entry fee may not be enough to save Venice from 20 million tourists

Back in Kent, it may take longer for any such radical plans to come to fruition. In contrast to Scotland and Wales, there are currently no national plans to introduce tourist taxes in England.

This might be considered shortsighted, given the dire need of many destinations in England to improve local infrastructure that tourists rely on, including clean bathing water and public transport . In Manchester and Liverpool , businesses have implemented voluntary overnight charges on visitors, in the absence of the statutory basis to implement compulsory levies.

Many other English towns and cities will probably follow their lead. Tourism taxes are something we might all have to consider budgeting for in our future travel plans, wherever we choose to visit.

• Hospitality sector
• Give me perspective

Case Management Specialist

Lecturer / Senior Lecturer - Marketing

Assistant Editor - 1 year cadetship

Executive Dean, Faculty of Health

Lecturer/Senior Lecturer, Earth System Science (School of Science)

France tries to shed its rude reputation ahead of the Olympics

Is the unfriendly Parisian a myth? A local goes undercover as a tourist to find out.

Paris is in the home stretch of preparing for the Olympics. A new 8,000-capacity arena has been opened in the north of Paris, the Olympic Village was inaugurated by Emmanuel Macron in early March, and authorities are still desperately trying to make sure the Seine is swimmable by the summer. The country is slowly but surely getting ready for the more than 15 million visitors that will descend on the capital and its suburbs between July and August. But there’s still something to consider — something a bit less tangible.

Are Parisians ready to welcome these visitors? Like really welcome?

France gets a bad rap when it comes to friendliness. There’s, of course, the long-standing cliché of the snooty French waiter or the surly Parisian, and a viral TikTok earlier this year of an American woman tearfully telling the camera that traveling in France was “isolating” and that French people were unwelcoming got thousands of comments — many from people agreeing with her.

“This kind of bad PR doesn’t worry me because it’s anecdotal,” says Corinne Ménégaux, the head of the Paris tourism office. “I think maybe 15 or 20 years ago the French were less welcoming, but nowadays we’ve got past that cliché. You inevitably have a small percentage of people who aren’t nice, and there’s not much you can do about it. It’s a reality of big cities, just like in London or New York.”

That hasn’t stopped France trying to clean up its rude image before foreigners come to town. Last year, the regional chamber of commerce updated a decade-old hospitality campaign called “Do You Speak Touriste? ” in the run-up to the Rugby World Cup held in Paris. The official guide touched on cultural differences, gently reminding the French that “The cultural tendency in France is to openly show one’s emotions, through one’s gestures or tone of voice. […] In other countries, disagreement is expressed a lot less openly.”

“There’s still the cafe waiter who doesn’t speak to you and sullenly serves you a Coca-Cola for 15 euros. I’m not saying that doesn’t exist anymore. But we have seen a real improvement,” said Frédéric Hocquard, the city councilor responsible for tourism and nightlife in Paris. He says that the covid-19 pandemic was the great turning point.

“There was this period when we had no tourists at all. And the tourist industry realized it had to make a bit of effort.”

A friendliness pledge

Part of Paris’ effort to revamp its reputation is a “hospitality charter,” which has been signed by more than 1,600 businesses in the tourism sector, from hotels to restaurants to tour guides. The agreement is based around three main principles: promote sustainable and environmentally friendly measures; make visitors’ experiences more fluid; and support local businesses. Businesses that have signed up will be able to display a sticker or sign on their establishment so that tourists know that they’re a trusted place. The city is also training workers in newspaper kiosks, bakeries and tobacco shops to be able to answer tourists’ questions.

Both Ménégaux and Hocquard agree on one point: Visitors to Paris also have to do their part. . In an ideal world, Ménégaux would like tourists to sign a “good tourist etiquette” charter of their own. “When people come to Paris, we want them to commit to respecting certain things: to respect their neighbors’ peace and quiet, to use a reusable water bottle and not buy plastic ones and not to buy products made in China when you can buy local.”

Differences in etiquette are among the first things some foreigners notice when they move to or visit France. American expats and social media content creators Ember Langley and Gabrielle Pedriani devoted a video to the thorny issue of French politesse in their lighthearted TikTok series, “The ABCs of Paris.” In the video , Langley warns, “What’s considered polite in the U.S. might not be considered polite in Paris.” The two go on to give tips such as “Smile less”, “Get into a debate over dinner” and “Arrive fashionably late.”

“I see Americans in the Metro and it’s like — read the room. Everyone else is being quiet!” Langley said in an interview. “When you’re a traveler, and you’re coming here on vacation, it’s easy to forget that 2 million people are living their lives here. You need to be respectful of the local culture and approach your interactions humbly.” But Langley says it’s a misconception that the French are rude; it’s just a matter of cultural differences. “The biggest thing here is that the customer is not always right; in the U.S., the customer is king.”

Going undercover as an English-speaking tourist

I decided to put Parisians’ friendliness to the test myself. As a Brit who has lived in Paris for a decade, speaks French and has even obtained French nationality (with immense gratitude), I put on my best British accent and went to see how I was treated around the French capital.

The experiment began at ground zero: in front of Notre Dame cathedral, which is still blocked off and undergoing renovation work after an enormous fire engulfed the roof in 2019. With a friend, I headed into the archaeological museum in the crypt. “Hello! Parlez-vous anglais?” I asked the woman behind the ticket desk. I was greeted with a broad smile and patient description — in English — of the museum and ticket prices. She wasn’t even bothered by a patently stupid question about whether we could visit the cathedral, gently explaining that the site wouldn’t be open to the public for months.

We thanked her and headed back up into the sunlight.

Next stop: a bouquiniste. These Seine-side booksellers have to tackle tourist questions day in, day out. The man running his stall opposite the cathedral cheerfully took the time to find books in English for us, before recommending that we try Shakespeare and Company just across the road, one of Paris’s most famous English-language bookstores. It was the same at the tourist trinket shop, where we asked for directions to the Eiffel Tower or down in the Metro station, where the woman behind the counter told us that her English wasn’t very good and yet valiantly answered all of our questions about transport passes with broken but determined English.

By this point, I had even ditched my poorly-pronounced French icebreaker, just bouncing up to them and speaking directly in English. And yet everywhere we went, we were greeted with smiles and a genuine desire to help. I’ll admit that I was surprised — it’s been years since I was a tourist in the city, but I certainly remember eye-rolling, terseness and a certain unwillingness to help.

It was time for the ultimate test: asking for oat milk in a Parisian cafe. We chose a touristy spot on the Place Saint-Michel, where the servers were every inch the stereotype, in white shirts and black bow ties. Our server swept up to us haughtily but didn’t blink when we responded in English, even though he initially couldn’t understand my question. “Hot milk?” he kept repeating. When he finally understood, he laughed, waving his hands dismissively. “ Non, non , it is not possible, soy milk, vegan milk, we do not have, only la vache .” To make his point, he added with a flourish, “Moooo!”

My request had managed to elicit the famous “ c’est pas possible ” — well-known to anyone who has struggled with French bureaucracy and customer service — but it was said with such good humor (and a complementary animal sound), so how could I be offended?

The more than a dozen tourists I spoke to had also had largely positive experiences. Samantha Capaldi, visiting from Arizona with two friends, told me, “We love it here,” before admitting with a wry smile, “We’re trying to blend in but we’re so loud, everyone notices us.” In the four days they’d spent in Paris, they’d observed the same cultural differences Langley mentions in her videos — such as not getting tap water automatically with your meal at a restaurant, or being given a funny look when ordering an appetizer alongside an entree. “They kind of laugh at us, but not in a mean way,” she continued. “Trying to speak French helps a lot.”

Carla, from Sheffield in the United Kingdom, was in Paris with her boyfriend Brian to celebrate the anniversary of their first date. She’s visited Paris several times and has noticed a marked difference in the way she’s been treated compared to previous trips. “I’m a bit of a weightier person and I’ve been deliberately ignored in restaurants before — other people being given menus before me or served before me. But I rarely get that now. Everyone seems really nice.”

It seems that the city’s efforts in recent years are paying off and Parisians are — dare I say it? — learning that a little hospitality goes a long way. The only thing left is being able to get oat milk in cafes — but maybe it’s up to Americans to let that go and lean into France’s love of dairy. Mooo!

Catherine Bennett is a writer based in Paris.

More travel tips

Vacation planning: Start with a strategy to maximize days off by taking PTO around holidays. Experts recommend taking multiple short trips for peak happiness . Want to take an ambitious trip? Here are 12 destinations to try this year — without crowds.

Cheap flights: Follow our best advice for scoring low airfare , including setting flight price alerts and subscribing to deal newsletters. If you’re set on an expensive getaway, here’s a plan to save up without straining your credit limit.

Airport chaos: We’ve got advice for every scenario , from canceled flights to lost luggage . Stuck at the rental car counter? These tips can speed up the process. And following these 52 rules of flying should make the experience better for everyone.

Expert advice: Our By The Way Concierge solves readers’ dilemmas , including whether it’s okay to ditch a partner at security, or what happens if you get caught flying with weed . Submit your question here . Or you could look to the gurus: Lonely Planet and Rick Steves .