Several European holiday hotspots have rejected plans to introduce a tourist tax on non-EU visitors imposed in France.
British tourists in France are faced with paying €5 (£4.10) to visit popular attractions such as the Louvre or Notre Dame in Paris due to Brexit.
The new tax could be imposed as early as 2026.
“I want visitors from outside the EU to pay more for their entrance ticket and for this surcharge to finance the renovation of the national heritage,” Culture Minister Rachida Dati told Le Figaro.
But other holiday destinations such as Bruges in Belgium, Madrid in Spain, Amsterdam in the Netherlands and Berlin in Germany have pledged that they would not introduce such a tax and that tourists would have to travel to their cities instead of France and Paris.
Tourists in France will have to pay £4.10 (€5) to visit popular attractions such as the Louvre (pictured) or Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris due to Brexit. The new tax could be imposed as early as 2026
Mayor Dirk De fauw of Bruges told the Telegraaf: ‘We will never make a difference between European residents and non-European residents’ (photo: Bruges)
Meanwhile, in Madrid, right-wing regional president Isabel Diaz Ayuso (pictured) said she would not introduce a tourist tax
This is what Mayor Dirk De fauw of Bruges said Telegraph: ‘We will never make a difference between European residents and non-European residents.’
He added that while the city could introduce an additional charge for cruise day visitors, it would be the same regardless of whether the guest is from the EU or not.
Meanwhile, in Madrid, the city’s right-wing regional president Isabel Diaz Ayuso said she would not introduce a new tourist tax.
‘Madrid is not going to impose new taxes. The president rules out any tax that burdens tourism,” a spokesperson told the Telegraph.
‘Our policy is one of low taxes that creates more economic activity, employment and prosperity.’
Her comments come after Diaz Ayuso angered residents of the Spanish capital by telling restaurants to open earlier for lunch and dinner for tourists.
Another city ruling out a Brexit tourist tax is Berlin, while an Amsterdam spokesperson said there are ‘no plans to impose a local tax on non-EU residents, especially when it comes to museums’.
The Dutch capital has instead focused its efforts on improving tourist behavior in the center and the red light district to keep the areas livable for residents.
This comes after a summer of anti-tourism campaigns in Europe, with residents protesting against Airbnb and short-term holiday rentals in Barcelona for making affordable housing more expensive, while locals in Malaga protested the unruly behavior of British visitors.
Barcelona has increased its so-called tourist tax for the second time in four years in a bid to curb overtourism.
Another city ruling out a Brexit tourist tax is Berlin, pictured above
An Amsterdam spokesperson (pictured) said there are ‘no plans to impose a local tax on non-EU residents, especially when it comes to museums’
The Spanish city, home to 1.6 million people, receives around 7 million visitors annually, putting a strain on the city’s resources.
On April 1, local authorities increased the city tax, which travelers see at the bottom of their accommodation bill, to €3.25 (£2.70) for every night they spend in the city.
While France hopes to use the extra costs for tourists from outside the EU to renovate its main attractions, Venice – which also introduced a €5 levy – wants to reduce overcrowding.
The tax in Venice only applies on certain peak days, when the city charges day trippers to enter to preserve its heritage.