Key Facts
- ✓ Edinburgh will charge a 5% tax on accommodation for the first five nights starting July 24, 2026.
- ✓ Kyoto is raising its overnight accommodation tax on March 1, 2026, with the steepest increases for rooms costing over 100,000 yen.
- ✓ Barcelona plans to double the tourism tax on five-star hotels to 7 euros by April 2026.
- ✓ Thailand expects to introduce a 300 baht entry fee for air travelers in mid-2026.
- ✓ Norwegian municipalities will be authorized to impose a 3% tax on tourist accommodations starting in 2026.
Quick Summary
Travelers planning trips in 2026 should prepare for increased costs due to new or higher tourist taxes in several major destinations. These taxes are being implemented to manage overtourism and raise revenue for local services.
Edinburgh will introduce a 5% accommodation tax in July 2026, while Kyoto is raising its tiered overnight tax starting March 2026. Barcelona plans to double its tourism tax on five-star hotels to 7 euros by April 2026.
Thailand is expected to introduce a 300 baht entry fee for air travelers in mid-2026, and parts of Norway will allow a 3% tax on accommodations. These measures reflect a growing trend of using fiscal policy to offset the pressures of mass tourism on local infrastructure and environments.
European Cities Implement New Levies
Several historic European cities are moving to cap visitor numbers and fund infrastructure through new taxes. Edinburgh is leading this initiative in Scotland as the first city to impose a tourism tax.
Starting July 24, 2026, tourists visiting Edinburgh will be charged an extra 5% on top of their accommodation costs. This charge applies to the first five nights of a stay. The City of Edinburgh Council expects this visitor levy to raise up to £50 million ($67 million) annually by 2029. The revenue is earmarked for improving city infrastructure and managing tourism.
In Japan, the ancient capital of Kyoto is also adjusting its tax structure. Starting March 1, 2026, visitors will face higher overnight taxes on accommodation. The system is tiered based on room cost:
- Rooms under 6,000 yen ($38) remain taxed at 200 yen.
- Rooms priced between 6,000 and 20,000 yen will see the tax double to 400 yen.
- High-end rooms costing 50,000 to 100,000 yen will jump from 1,000 to 4,000 yen.
- Rooms over 100,000 yen will rise tenfold to 10,000 yen.
Kyoto's government estimates the revised tax will generate 12.6 billion yen ($81 million) a year.
"sustain Edinburgh's status as one of the world's greatest cultural and heritage cities."
— City of Edinburgh Council
Barcelona and Anti-Tourism Measures
Barcelona, one of Europe's most visited cities, is also tightening its fiscal policies regarding tourism. Tourists staying in five-star hotels and luxury accommodations currently pay a regional tourism tax of 3.50 euros ($4) a night.
Under a revised Catalan tax framework, this levy is set to double to 7 euros. The increase was initially scheduled for 2025 but was delayed until at least April 2026. This move comes amid growing anti-tourism sentiment in Spain. During the summers of 2024 and 2025, protesters in Barcelona demonstrated against overtourism and rising living costs.
Thailand and Norway Adjust Policies
Outside of Europe, Thailand and Norway are also adjusting how they charge international visitors.
Thailand is expected to introduce a tourist entry fee in mid-2026. In 2023, the cabinet approved a 300 baht ($10) fee for visitors arriving by air. Those arriving by land or sea will pay half that amount. The fee was originally expected in 2025 but was delayed due to weak tourism numbers, which fell 7.25% from the start of the year to December 21 compared to the previous year.
In Norway, a new law gives municipalities the authority to impose a 3% tax on tourist accommodations, including cruises and overnight stays. This will roll out in 2026 but is not automatic in all areas. Cities must apply to implement the fee. Municipalities such as Lofoten and Tromsø have already opted in.
Conclusion
As 2026 approaches, the landscape of international travel is shifting financially. From Edinburgh to Thailand, local governments are utilizing taxes to manage the influx of visitors and protect local resources. Travelers should factor these new costs into their budgets when visiting these popular destinations next year.
