Bruges, Belgium – The city of Bruges will introduce a €4 tax on short-term visitors starting from January 1, 2027, in a bid to alleviate the strain of mass tourism, Mayor Dirk de Fauw (CD&V) announced on Thursday.
The picturesque Flemish city, renowned for its medieval architecture and canals, welcomed approximately eight million tourists in 2024.
The high influx of visitors has placed increasing pressure on the city’s infrastructure and residents, prompting local authorities to seek financial contributions from all tourists, including those who do not stay overnight.
Currently, Bruges imposes a tax of €4 per person per night, which is collected directly by hotels and short-term rentals. However, under the new proposal, this tax will extend to day-trippers arriving via organized group transport, including cruise ships and tour buses.
“We believe that those who visit the city for a short time in a group should also pay a contribution to the maintenance of this beautiful city,” de Fauw told The Brussels Times. “Cruise tourists should pay a city tax of €4 from 1 January 2027.”
While the plan has not yet been finalized, the mayor’s political program for 2025-2030 indicates that the initial phase of the tax will target visitors arriving on coach excursions or cruise ships.
However, de Fauw acknowledged the challenges in collecting this tax from bus passengers and stated that further discussions are required to develop an effective system.
The Bruges city administration emphasized that the tax is not an attempt to deter visitors but rather a proactive measure to prevent overtourism and ensure the sustainability of the city’s tourism industry.
“We reject the notion that Bruges is currently experiencing overtourism, but we wish to prevent it from getting to that point,” the city stated in a comment to The Brussels Times.
Tourist groups, particularly those from cruise ships and coach tours, have a “disruptive” impact on the daily lives of Bruges residents, according to de Fauw.
However, he ruled out implementing a universal tax on all day-trippers, citing the logistical challenges of enforcement. Instead, the city plans to work with cruise companies and tour operators to facilitate the tax collection process.
Bruges is the latest European destination to introduce a tourist tax as a means of managing visitor numbers and offsetting the costs of tourism.
Earlier this year, Venice implemented a €5 fee for all non-residents visiting the city, requiring them to present a QR code as proof of payment. Similarly, Barcelona charges a €4 tax per person for overnight visitors in an effort to curb excessive tourism.
Beyond Europe, some countries have taken even stricter measures to regulate tourism. Bhutan, for example, imposes a $100 daily fee on most foreign visitors as part of its strategy to promote “high-value, low-volume” tourism. Despite the steep cost, the remote Himalayan nation still welcomed over 100,000 tourists in 2023.
As Bruges moves forward with its new tourist tax plan, city officials will continue evaluating the best methods to implement and enforce the levy, ensuring that tourism remains both a cultural and economic asset without overwhelming local resources.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
