Popular destinations around the world, and tourist taxes in Europe above all, are rising to manage record visitor numbers and pay for public services. As of October 2026, daily access charges, conservation levies and city hotel taxes are no longer one-off experiments. They're becoming standard across Europe, Asia, and the Himalayas.
If you don't check these fees before you go, you may face surprise charges at hotel check-in, apps you must download or fines. Budget for tourist taxes and access fees, and both your spending and your border crossings will go smoothly.
Global tourist taxes and access fees in 2026
The reasons behind tourist fees vary significantly across borders. Some cities use day charges to curb pedestrian crowding along historic canal paths. Others charge conservation fees to pay for waste collection, beach restoration or better public transport.
The table below outlines key tourist taxes and access fees across prominent global destinations in 2026:
| Destination | Fee amount (2026) | Who must pay | Payment method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venice, Italy | €5 to €10 per day | Day-trippers entering the historic old city (8:30 to 16:00) | Online portal (cda.ve.it) to generate QR voucher |
| Bali, Indonesia | IDR 150,000 (~$10) | All international tourist arrivals entering Bali | Online portal (lovebali.baliprov.go.id) or airport kiosks |
| Bhutan | $100 per adult per night | International tourists (excluding regional treaty nations) | Paid directly during visa or itinerary clearance through official operators |
| Kyoto, Japan | ¥200 to ¥10,000 per night | All overnight guests staying in registered hotels, ryokans, or rentals | Collected by accommodation provider at check-in or checkout |
| Edinburgh, Scotland | 5% room rate levy | Overnight guests staying in commercial lodging | Added automatically to nightly lodging invoices |
Venice day-tripper fee (Contributo di Accesso)
Venice launched its day-tripper access fee to manage heavy day-crowds between spring and autumn.
It sits alongside Venice's ordinary tourist tax, which hotel guests pay per night instead. Visiting Venice for the day on a peak date, with no hotel booking? Register in advance and pay the Contributo di Accesso.
The standard rate is €5 per person when reserved well ahead of time. That rises to €10 if you purchase within three days of arrival on peak summer weekends. The requirement applies strictly from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM on designated high-traffic dates between April and October.
The registration sequence is straightforward:
- Navigate to the official municipal booking platform at cda.ve.it.
- Choose your arrival date and select either the standard payment option or an applicable exemption category.
- Download the generated digital QR code straight to your mobile device.
- Keep the voucher handy for routine inspections at the Santa Lucia train terminal or Piazzale Roma bus station.
Children under 14, daily commuters, Veneto residents and enrolled students don't pay, but they must carry ID that proves it. Municipal inspectors with handheld digital scanners patrol entry points. If you're caught without a valid digital pass, fines run from €50 to €300.
Before departing for Italy, double-check your paperwork with our visa checker and check our guide on tipping in Europe.
Bali foreign tourist levy
The provincial government of Bali requires all international visitors to pay an entry levy of IDR 150,000 (roughly $10 USD). The money pays for conservation, cultural projects and road repairs across the island.
You pay this levy whether you fly into I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) in Denpasar or arrive by ferry from Java or Lombok.
The payment process follows three steps:
- Online payment: Visit the provincial portal (lovebali.baliprov.go.id) or launch the Love Bali smartphone application. Input your passport number, legal name, scheduled arrival date, and email address, then pay with an international credit card.
- Voucher receipt: You'll immediately receive an electronic voucher containing a verifiable QR code via email.
- Port scanning: Present this QR voucher at dedicated inspection desks at Denpasar Airport's international arrival terminal or domestic ferry piers.
This levy is separate from Indonesia's electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VOA), which costs IDR 500,000 (around $32 USD). Both charges apply to vacationers.
Bhutan Sustainable Development Fee (SDF)
Bhutan follows a high-value, low-volume tourism model to protect its Himalayan habitats and traditions. All foreign vacationers must contribute a daily Sustainable Development Fee (SDF).
The Royal Government of Bhutan charges a reduced rate of $100 USD per adult per night, down from $200, until 31 August 2027. Children aged 6 to 12 receive a 50% concession ($50 USD nightly), while children under 6 are exempt from the daily charge.
Key aspects of the Himalayan levy:
- Allocation: The $100 nightly SDF flows into national public funds, financing universal medical care, free secondary education, carbon-negative reforestation, and ancient temple restorations.
- Package exclusions: The fee doesn't include your lodging, meals, ground transportation, or certified tour guides. You must contract those services through an authorized tour company.
- Payment mechanism: You'll pay the total SDF upfront when submitting your visa paperwork via the Department of Tourism's platform or through your licensed Bhutanese travel agency. Your entry permit won't clear until the full fee has been received.
Indian passport holders pay a lower rate of INR 1,200 per night under a bilateral arrangement.
Kyoto accommodation tax and Japan departure tax
Kyoto charges a city lodging tax (shukuhakuzei) on every overnight guest in hotels, ryokans and holiday townhouses.
Since 1 March 2026, the rates depend on what each guest pays per night:
- Under ¥6,000: ¥200 per person per night.
- ¥6,000 to ¥19,999: ¥400.
- ¥20,000 to ¥49,999: ¥1,000.
- ¥50,000 to ¥99,999: ¥4,000.
- ¥100,000 or more: ¥10,000.
On top of city hotel taxes, everyone flying out of Japan pays the national International Tourist Tax (the "Sayonara Tax"). Since 1 July 2026 it's ¥3,000 (¥1,000 on tickets issued before then), and it's built into your flight ticket, so you won't queue to pay it.
For costs and entry rules in Japan, see our guides to how much a trip to Japan costs, entry rules for Japan and Japan's new travel costs and hotel taxes.
Edinburgh transient visitor levy and European city fees
City hotel taxes are spreading across Europe. Edinburgh has introduced Scotland's first city visitor levy.
Edinburgh charges a 5% levy on the nightly room price of paid stays, including hotels, serviced flats, guest houses and short-term holiday rentals. The levy is capped at seven consecutive nights per stay, protecting long-term visitors from compounding fees. The resulting revenue funds historic street upkeep, waste management, and festival facilities across the city.
Other European capitals enforce comparable fees:
- Amsterdam, Netherlands: Imposes Europe's highest tourist levy, pairing an 12.5% accommodation surcharge on room prices with an €14.50 daily fee for cruise passengers.
- Barcelona, Spain: Pairs a regional Catalan tourism tax with a municipal surcharge, totaling €4.00 to €7.50 per night depending on lodging tier.
- Paris, France: Collects a tiered nightly taxe de séjour ranging from €1.07 for basic campsites to €14.95 per person per night for palace hotels.
Most European hotel operators bill these charges during check-in or checkout. Booking sites often leave city taxes out of the headline price, so check the summary before you pay to avoid a surprise at the front desk.
Frequently asked questions
Are tourist taxes included in my flight or hotel package?
International departure taxes are almost always bundled directly into your flight booking. In contrast, local overnight hotel taxes (like those in Kyoto, Paris, or Edinburgh) aren't usually collected by online booking sites. You'll typically settle these room taxes directly at the reception desk during check-in or checkout.
What happens if I forget to pay the Venice day-tripper fee?
If municipal officers check you within Venice's historic old town during fee hours (8:30 AM to 4:00 PM on designated dates) and you can't present a digital QR pass or an exemption confirmation, you risk an on-the-spot administrative fine between €50 and €300, alongside the €10 maximum entry fee.
Can I get a refund on Bali's tourist levy if my trip is cancelled?
No, the IDR 150,000 Bali tourist levy isn't refundable once submitted through the Love Bali system. However, issued vouchers remain valid for up to 60 days from your declared arrival date. If your travel dates shift within that two-month span, you can use your issued QR voucher without paying again.
Does Bhutan's daily $100 fee cover tour guides or transportation?
No. Bhutan's Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) is strictly a national development and conservation levy. It doesn't cover your private ground transport, registered tour guides, hotel stays, daily meals, or monument tickets. You'll need to budget and pay those package expenses through your registered tour operator.
Do children have to pay these access fees?
Rules differ depending on your destination. Children under 14 don't pay the Venice day fee. Children under 6 don't pay Bhutan's daily SDF, while those aged 6 to 12 pay a discounted $50 nightly rate. For Bali, every international visitor regardless of age must pay the IDR 150,000 levy. Check each destination's official website before departure for full family rules.
