Cruise ship crackdown hits tourist hot spot as city fast-tracks new visitor tax

One of Europe’s most crowded tourist cities is cracking down on cruises and their passengers, with the mayor of the city pushing to fast-track a tax hike on short-stay passengers.

Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni on Wednesday said he wants cruise passengers to pay up to $9.30 (8 euros) per night, a 100% increase from the current $4.65 rate (4 euros).

The news was reported by El País, Spain’s paper of record, after Collboni appeared on Betevé, the local network.

The tax would apply to cruise passengers docking in Barcelona.

Barcelona’s City Council agreed last July to gradually increase the tax to $9.30 (8 euros), El País reported — and while the council agreed to raise it over the next four years, Collboni is advocating for an immediate daily increase.

“In the coming months, we will raise the tourist tax … so that it comes into force in the next few months and not in four