Different countries are always scheming up new ways to stick taxes to tourists.
After all – somebody has to pay for their tourism expansions or airport improvements.
From hotel taxes to entry fees – to even airport departure fees – here is a list of places that charge some kind of tax to visit.
Venice, Italy
In Venice – there are two types of taxes.
First, they have the “overnight tax” – or properly referred to as “tassa di soggiorno.”
But don’t think a day trip will get you out of paying taxes – their new day-tourist tax system (referred to as “contributo di accesso”) went into effect January 16, 2023.
Day travelers must now pay between 3 and 10 euro to enter.
Venice hopes the new tax will actually keep people away from the city to reduce overcrowding.
On popular days (like Easter Sunday), hundreds of thousands of travelers visit Venice – and while they were used to visiting free sites in the walkable city – officials hope the new tax will deter some from entering.
National Geographic reported:
“Around 90% of visitors to Venice are what the city calls ‘hit and runs’ – day-trippers, often bussed or boated in from the surrounding area and even as far away as Croatia. These visitors tend to spend less money in the city, clog the areas around the main sites, and leave plenty of rubbish in their wake…
Authorities want to reduce the overcrowding. Their solution: to introduce an entry fee of up to €10 for day-trippers in the hope of putting some of them off, or persuading people to visit on a less busy day, when it’ll be cheaper to get in.”
Thailand
Thailand has been planning to tax tourists for awhile – but their plans were delayed during the pandemic.
But now that travel is booming again, they are expecting to roll out the new tax in June of 2023.
Thailand Tourism Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said travelers flying in will expect to pay 300 baht ($8.90 USD).
Bloomberg reported:
“The government expects to collect about 3.9 billion baht in fees this year and a part of it will be used to provide health and accidental insurance cover for the tourists during their stay in the country, Phiphat said.”
Those traveling by sea will still have to pay a tax too – but it is a bit less at 150 baht (about $4 USD).
Maldives
They love taxes in the Maldives!
From pricy hotel taxes to even airport departure taxes (yes, this is actually a thing) – if you want to travel to this hot tourist spot – get ready to pay.
There used to be a $25 Airport Service Tax – but now in order to help fund the $800 million infrastructure project at the Velana International Airport – they are forcing visitors to pay an even heftier fee.
Maldives Traveller reported:
“All passengers are subject to the new Departure Tax, plus an Airport Development Fee if flying out of Velana International Airport, the country’s main airport.
Economy class travellers are now subject to a Departure Tax of $30 plus a $30 Airport Development Fee, totalling US $60.
Business Class passengers will pay a departure tax of US $60 plus an airport development fee of US $60. This rises to US $90 plus US $90 for First Class passengers. Those travelling by private jet will be charged US $120 plus an Airport Development Fee of US $120 if departing Velana International Airport.”
Airlines are responsible for collecting the tax on regular flights – and even those with a chartered plane or private jet have to pay a tax to the airport operator.
Don’t get me wrong – the Maldives are beautiful – but the taxes are just insane.
El Salvador And Other Countries
To enter El Salvador, you need a tourist visa, which is good for 90 days. Americans can expect to pay $12 once they arrive at the airport and go through customs.
Other destinations that stick travelers with some kind of tourist tax include: Austria, Barcelona, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland and Valencia.
So as you book your travel plans this year – make sure you take into account all the taxes you’ll have to pay – as if we aren’t taxed enough already here under Biden.
(h/t Proud American Traveler)