Travelers eyeing a sojourn to Paris this year should brace themselves for heftier expenses, courtesy of the city’s recent tax hike on accommodations that took effect as the calendar flipped to 2024.
Effective January 1, the escalated taxes entail a considerable surge in nightly charges for lodgings, substantially impacting visitors’ wallets. The augmented rates vary across different types of accommodations, imposing a noteworthy burden on tourists planning their stays in the French capital.
The most substantial increase targets occupants of opulent “palaces,” compelling them to fork out a staggering nightly tax of €14.95 ($16.38). This signifies a jaw-dropping 199 percent surge from the 2023 rate of €5 ($5.48). Similarly, patrons of 5-star accommodations face a formidable hike, encountering a nightly rate of €10.73 ($11.75), escalating by 186 percent from the prior year’s €3.75 ($4.11). Meanwhile, guests lodging in 4-star hotels confront an escalated tariff of €8.13 ($8.91), marking a formidable 182 percent upsurge from the 2023 rate of €2.88 ($3.15).
In contrast, occupants of 1-star hotels, holiday villages, guest rooms, or hostels encounter a more moderate elevation, with a new rate of €2.60 ($2.85), contrasting with the 2023 rate of €1 ($1.10).
The decision to amplify these taxes arrives ahead of the impending Paris Olympics, slated to captivate audiences starting July 26. Preceding the games, hotel prices have been soaring, averaging over 300 percent higher than usual for the upcoming summer. Anticipating an influx of over 11 million visitors during the event, Paris braces for a substantial surge in tourism.
Notably, Paris isn’t singular in this fiscal adjustment. Amsterdam has likewise greenlit an escalation in city tourist taxes, amounting to 12.5 percent for the current year. This levy applies to both overnight visitors and those arriving via cruise ships.
Beyond Paris and Amsterdam, several destinations are also adopting new tax measures. Iceland, for instance, plans to levy charges on travelers to support the country’s environmental and sustainability objectives. Similarly, Venice intends to implement an additional fee for day trippers this spring, supplementing the existing tax imposed on overnight guests, solidifying a broader trend of cities resorting to increased tourist taxes to address various fiscal and environmental objectives.