How Scotland, Japan, Spain, Thailand, and Norway Are Shaping Your 2026 Travel Experience with New Tourist Taxes to Improve Your Visit

Published on December 30, 2025

The travel industry is set to face new challenges in 2026 as several top tourist destinations across the globe implement higher tourist taxes. These tax increases are part of efforts to manage overtourism, improve local services, and generate additional revenue for urban infrastructure. Countries such as Edinburgh, Kyoto, Barcelona, Thailand, and Norway are at the forefront of this initiative, and visitors to these destinations should brace for higher travel costs. While the increases are aimed at fostering sustainability, they will likely make vacations slightly more expensive.

Edinburgh’s Historic Move to Charge Tourists
Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital and a beacon of rich culture and history, will become the first city in the country to impose a tourist tax. Starting on July 24, 2026, a 5% tax will be added to hotel accommodations for tourists staying for up to five nights. This tax will directly contribute to maintaining the city’s cultural heritage and ensuring sustainable tourism.

What Does This Mean for Tourists?

• The 5% surcharge will apply to all hotel stays in Edinburgh, adding an additional cost to your trip.
• The levy is expected to generate up to £50 million ($67 million) annually by 2029.
• Funds will be used to improve city infrastructure, support cultural events, and manage tourism pressures during peak seasons.

Edinburgh’s festivals, including the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, attract millions of visitors every year, making it essential to ensure that the city can continue to host large-scale events while preserving its heritage.

Kyoto’s Overnight Stay Tax
Kyoto, Japan’s cultural jewel, will also be raising its accommodation taxes starting from March 1, 2026. The city’s famous ancient temples, cherry blossoms, and cultural landmarks continue to draw millions of visitors. However, as tourist numbers grow, the need to manage the city’s infrastructure has led to a tax increase.

Key Changes in Kyoto:

• Accommodation taxes will increase for different hotel categories. Rooms costing under ¥6,000 per night will be taxed ¥200, while more expensive rooms will see higher rates.
• For high-end accommodations, such as luxury hotels costing over ¥100,000 per night, taxes will jump from ¥1,000 to ¥10,000 per night.
• The total revenue generated from this tax is estimated at around ¥12.6 billion ($81 million) annually.

Barcelona’s Revised Luxury Hotel Taxes
Barcelona, Spain’s bustling coastal metropolis, is also taking steps to address overtourism by increasing its tourism tax. While the city has long had a tourist tax, the upcoming changes will see a significant doubling of taxes for those staying in luxury accommodations.

What’s Changing in Barcelona:

• The tourism tax for five-star hotels and other high-end accommodations will increase from €3.50 to €7 per night.
• Originally planned for 2025, this increase will now take effect from April 2026.
• This tax increase is part of the city’s broader efforts to manage the overwhelming pressure of tourism on local communities and infrastructure.

Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, and La Rambla have long been magnets for tourists, leading to overcrowding in certain areas. This new tax aims to control the numbers and ensure that visitors contribute to the maintenance of the city’s cultural gems.

Thailand’s New Tourist Entry Fee
Thailand is set to introduce a 300 baht ($10) entry fee for all international visitors arriving by air, with a lower rate for travelers arriving by land or sea. This fee is expected to be implemented in mid-2026.

How the Entry Fee Affects Travelers:

• Visitors arriving by air will pay the full 300 baht fee, while those traveling by land or sea will pay only half.
• The entry fee is aimed at improving tourism infrastructure and protecting Thailand’s natural resources.
• Thailand has seen fluctuations in tourism in recent years, with a decline in visitors in 2025, making this new fee a means of both boosting revenue and supporting local ecosystems.

Thailand’s iconic beaches, temples, and wildlife have long been a draw for global tourists, and this new tax will help ensure that the country can continue offering these experiences sustainably.

Norway’s New Municipal Accommodation Tax
Norway is taking a step towards managing tourism impacts by introducing a 3% accommodation tax for tourists. This new fee will be rolled out across the country in 2026, though it will not be mandatory in all municipalities.

Tourism Impact in Norway:

• Municipalities like Lofoten and Tromsø, famous for their stunning northern lights, have opted to implement this new tax.
• The 3% tax will apply to both hotel stays and cruise accommodations, ensuring that tourists contribute to maintaining Norway’s pristine natural beauty.
• The Norwegian tourism market experienced record-breaking visitor numbers in 2025, and this tax will help manage the growing pressures on infrastructure and natural sites.

Why These Tourist Taxes Are Important
While higher taxes on tourism may initially seem like a deterrent, they serve an important purpose in addressing the negative impacts of overtourism. These destinations, known for their iconic landmarks and rich cultural offerings, are under increasing pressure from the millions of tourists who visit each year. The revenue generated from these taxes will not only help improve infrastructure but also ensure that the local environment and communities remain sustainable in the long term.

Key Takeaways for Tourists in 2026:

• Be prepared for higher accommodation costs in popular cities like Edinburgh, Kyoto, Barcelona, Thailand, and Norway.
• Tourist taxes are often a way to improve local infrastructure, preserve cultural heritage, and manage the environmental impact of tourism.
• Understanding these new taxes can help travelers plan their budgets accordingly.

Conclusion: How These Changes Will Shape Your 2026 Travels

As tourism continues to recover in 2026, the introduction of higher tourist taxes in Edinburgh, Kyoto, Barcelona, Thailand, and Norway is likely to reshape travel plans for many. While these taxes may add a little extra to your travel expenses, they will ultimately benefit the destinations you visit, ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy their beauty. Travelers heading to these destinations should factor in these costs and prepare for an even richer and more sustainable travel experience.