Now, Mexico Joins Canada , US, Japan, New Zealand, Italy, France, Spain, Netherlands, Slovenia and More as Tourist Tax Becomes the New Norm of Travel to Boost Tourism

Friday, July 4, 2025

Mexico has now joined Canada (including Ottawa, British Columbia, and Alberta), the United States (with cities like New York City, Las Vegas, and Saratoga County), as well as Indonesia, Japan, Bhutan, New Zealand, Italy, France, Spain, the Netherlands, and Slovenia in making tourist taxes a new global travel norm, using them to boost tourism funding, manage infrastructure needs, and support sustainable visitor growth. From flat-rate entry fees and prepaid sustainability levies to nightly hotel charges and airport departure taxes, countries across the Americas, Europe, and Asia are increasingly relying on these mandatory contributions to ensure travelers directly support the destinations they enjoy—marking a clear shift in how tourism is financed worldwide.

But Mexico isn’t alone. From bustling cities in Canada and the United States to island paradises in Asia, and even heritage hubs in Europe, travel now comes with an extra line item: a fee—sometimes big, sometimes small, but always unavoidable.

Baja California Sur Makes It Official

If you’re heading to Cabo San Lucas or La Paz, pack your sunscreen, your passport—and proof that you’ve paid your visitor tax. As of now, anyone spending more than 24 hours in Baja California Sur is required to pay 470 Mexican pesos, which comes out to about $27.75 USD.

You can’t pay it at the airport. You have to pay it online ahead of time through a system called Embrace It. Once you’ve paid, you’ll get a receipt. Hold onto that. You might be asked to show it when you enter or leave the state. It’s basically your proof that you’ve contributed to keeping paradise, well… paradisiacal.

This follows a similar move in Quintana Roo (home to Cancún and Tulum), which already requires tourists to pay a fee before arrival. Mexico is clearly leaning into the trend.

US Does It Differently—But It’s Still a Tax

The United States doesn’t technically charge tourists to enter the country (at least not with a label like “tourist tax”), but that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. Cities and counties across the country collect occupancy taxes—some of them pretty steep.

In New York City, for example, you’ll pay nearly 15% on top of your hotel rate, not to mention daily room fees. Las Vegas hits you with a 13.38% tax on accommodations, and Saratoga County in upstate New York just bumped its hotel tax from 2% to 3%, with some cities layering on even more.

You won’t have to prepay online or show a QR code, but you’ll definitely feel it when you check out of your hotel.

Canada Isn’t Far Behind

North of the border, Canada also skips the national tax but gives local governments plenty of leeway. And they’re using it.

Ottawa charges a 5% accommodation tax, while in British Columbia, hotel stays in places like Vancouver include a combined tax that can reach 12%. In Alberta, you’re looking at a 4% tourism levy.

Again, these aren’t flashy QR-code-at-the-border types of taxes—but they’re real, they’re mandatory, and they add up fast.

Asia Is Going All-In With Prepaid Systems

Now, if you fly across the Pacific, you’ll see countries that are a bit more upfront—and structured—about their tourism charges.

Let’s take Bali, for instance. Tourists heading to the Indonesian hotspot are now required to pay IDR 150,000 (about $10 USD) before or during arrival. You can do it online or at the airport. They’ll hand you a digital slip to show you’ve paid. The funds go straight into environmental protection and local services. It’s one of the more transparent systems out there.

In Japan, you’re hit with what they call the “Sayonara Tax”—¥1,000 (around $7 USD) automatically added to your flight ticket when you leave. You probably won’t even notice it, but the revenue supports tourism development and safety infrastructure.

And then there’s Bhutan, which is in a league of its own. Tourists there must pay between $100 and $250 per day, depending on nationality. That’s not a typo. The fee covers accommodation, meals, a guide, and goes toward preserving Bhutan’s culture and environment. It’s not cheap, but that’s the point. Bhutan aims for quality, not quantity.

New Zealand also requires a NZD 100 tourism levy, folded into the visa or NZeTA application process. Simple, digital, and mandatory.

Europe Is… Taxing

Italy has had city-level taxes for years. Now, Venice has added an entry fee for day-trippers—€5 just to walk the canals. Rome, Milan, Florence—they all have their own hotel taxes, charged per night based on where and how you stay.

France does the same. Whether you’re staying in Paris or Nice, you’re likely paying €1 to €4 per night, depending on the class of accommodation.

Spain has its own spin. In Barcelona or the Balearic Islands, expect a nightly fee ranging from €0.60 to €3.50. And in Amsterdam, the city takes 7% of your room cost, plus a flat nightly charge.

Slovenia, a rising star in European travel, applies a €3.13 per night tax in cities like Ljubljana. Meanwhile, Scotland is gearing up to implement a 5% visitor tax in Edinburgh starting in 2026.

Even the Caribbean’s On Board

The Caribbean isn’t staying out of the game. Bonaire, for example, charges a $75 Visitor Entry Tax that must be paid before arrival. Cruise passengers pay a smaller $10 fee, but either way, the island wants everyone contributing to its conservation and tourism infrastructure.

Other Caribbean destinations, like St. Lucia and the Dominican Republic, tuck the tax into airfare or collect it as a departure fee—usually somewhere between $30 and $60 USD.

So Why Is Everyone Doing This?

Short answer: money and sustainability. Long answer? Countries and cities around the world are seeing record-breaking tourist numbers, and that’s not always a good thing. Overcrowded beaches, overbooked museums, aging infrastructure—someone has to pay for the upkeep.

Tourist taxes offer a practical solution. Instead of raising taxes on locals, governments ask visitors to chip in. Whether it’s a flat fee or a nightly charge, it helps keep destinations clean, safe, and functional.

Mexico has officially joined Canada (Ottawa, British Columbia, Alberta), the USA (New York City, Las Vegas, Saratoga County), Indonesia, Japan, Bhutan, New Zealand, Italy, France, Spain, Netherlands, and Slovenia in adopting tourist taxes as the new global standard to fund tourism, ease infrastructure strain, and support sustainable travel. This growing trend ensures visitors contribute directly to the places they explore.

Tourist taxes used to be a niche thing. Now they’re everywhere. Whether you’re booking a hotel in Ottawa, catching a wave in Bali, strolling through Rome, or sailing into Bonaire, expect to pay a little extra. And if you’re planning a trip to Baja California Sur, don’t forget to pay that Mexican visitor tax online—or risk delays at the airport.

This is the future of travel. The suitcase might still be yours, but the price of the journey? That now includes a little thank-you to the places you’re lucky enough to explore.

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