# The Increasing Expenses of Global Travel: Additional Tourist Charges and Levies
As you plan your international travels for this year and the next, it might be wise to allocate a bit more of your budget towards tourist fees and additional taxes.
After popular travel destinations experienced a significant lull from the crowds in 2020 and 2021, the past two years have seen tourism return to peak levels or even exceed them in many parts of Europe. Iconic travel spots are bustling once again, with some destinations breaking new records last year. This trend seems set to continue, prompting many destinations to introduce new tourist fees.
While this hasn’t become a universal trend, a few places have taken a more welcoming approach. Costa Rica, for instance, extended its tourist visa stay limit to 180 days, and Turkey eliminated its visa fee for Americans. However, to avoid any unpleasant surprises, be aware of new traveler fees and visa cost increases that may apply elsewhere.
Some fees aim to fund technological initiatives, such as [biometric documents](https://www.etiasvisa.com/etias-news/ees-europe-etias-visa), while others appear to be efforts to curb tourism in specific locations. Additionally, some fees are justified as measures to offset the increased strain on infrastructure and the environment caused by mass tourism.
## New Visa Fees in Europe: ETIAS and EES
If you’re planning a trip to Europe, a small additional expense is unlikely to deter you. This is the reasoning behind the EU’s implementation of new charges for most travelers seeking entry to the continent.
The EU is rolling out two similar systems intended to enhance security, expedite entry processes, and, candidly, track visitors within a shared database. Visiting the USA or Europe now requires compliance with these new protocols.
The EES involves internal system modifications for all foreign nationals entering Europe, while the ETIAS is a fee applicable to those who are visa-exempt. Although we don’t need a visa, we will need to pay an entry fee: starting sometime in 2024, a €7 fee per person will apply, and obtaining the ETIAS confirmation must be done in advance. The process should be quick and straightforward once it is officially underway.
Additionally, note that Romania and Bulgaria joined the Schengen Zone this year. While this change doesn’t affect costs (and both countries offer excellent travel value), it does limit the options for spending more than 90 days within a 180-day period in Europe. Remaining alternatives in Europe are mostly the UK, a few Balkan countries, and European Turkey.
## Tourist Charges in Overcrowded Cities
In addition to the continent-wide fee, you’ll encounter higher costs in popular cities struggling with overtourism. While exploring less crowded European destinations is preferable, if you choose to follow the throngs of tourists to major cities, be prepared to incur additional charges.
**Amsterdam** – Tired of overtourism, Amsterdam’s government has taken steps to reclaim the city, including running ads to dissuade rowdy visitors from the UK and imposing an 11-euro tax on cruise ship passengers. Now, the city imposes the highest tourist fee in Europe. Tourists pay an average tax of €22 per night, up from the previous €15, based on the average room price in the city.
**Barcelona** – As another hotspot for overtourism, Barcelona has faced housing shortages for residents due to apartments being converted to short-term rentals. Last year, the city introduced a nightly tourist tax of €2.75 for more accommodations, which increased to €3.75 this year.
**Venice** – After banning cruise ships and still grappling with large numbers of day-trippers, Venice will charge a €5 fee per person for visitors not staying overnight in the city.
**Greece** – While Mykonos and Santorini are overcrowded, other parts of Greece remain relatively empty, such as the desolate Mani Peninsula.