Published on
January 16, 2026
Cross‑Atlantic tourism links the United States and Europe more than almost any other region pair. Millions of Americans travel to European cities every year and millions of Europeans visit the U.S. This exchange fuels airlines, hospitality sectors and local economies. As 2026 approaches, a wave of policy changes on both sides of the Atlantic threatens to reshape this travel landscape. New security rules and data collection requirements in the U.S. and the European Union’s planned Entry/Exit System (EES) and travel authorisation (ETIAS), combined with higher taxes and levies in popular European destinations, could significantly increase costs and complexity. Travellers must be aware of these official measures to plan effectively.
The United States relies on the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) to screen nationals from 41 visa‑waiver countries before boarding a plane or ship. A Federal Register notice published in December 2025 outlines major reforms to ESTA that will come into force in 2026. The programme will be transformed into a mobile‑only application; the existing web portal will be decommissioned. To prevent fraud and enable stronger identity verification, all applicants will have to upload a live selfie photo alongside their passport photo[1]. Third‑party submissions will still be possible, but the applicant’s photograph must be captured and uploaded via the mobile application[1]. The notice states that this live image helps verify that the person applying is the rightful holder of the passport and will be matched against facial recognition algorithms[1].
In addition to a photo requirement, the U.S. is vastly expanding the information it collects from travellers. The revised application will mandate entry of social media identifiers from the past five years, telephone numbers for the past five years, email addresses for the past ten years, IP addresses, detailed family and business contact information and multiple types of biometrics, including face, fingerprint, DNA and iris data[2]. These fields are described as “high‑value data” necessary to comply with an executive order on national security screenings[2]. Applicants must provide them to obtain authorisation; optional fields such as social media will be removed, and the new policy notes that such data help identify individuals who may pose security threats[3]. Romania, which briefly joined the Visa Waiver Programme in early 2025, has been removed from the programme, so Romanian nationals will need full visas[4]. The revised system also invites public comments and emphasises that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will address privacy concerns.
The same notice introduces a voluntary departure confirmation pilot. Travellers can use the CBP Home mobile app to report their exit by submitting passport details, a facial image and their geolocation. This information creates a biometrically confirmed exit record and helps address overstay cases[5]. While voluntary for now, the pilot indicates an increasing move toward self‑reporting and pervasive biometrics. Together, these changes mean that European visitors will face longer and more intrusive applications to visit the United States in 2026.
The European Union is preparing its own layers of digital border control. The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated register of travellers from non‑EU countries. According to the European Commission, the EES will collect the person’s name, travel document data and biometric data such as fingerprints and facial images[6]. It will record the date, time and location of every entry and exit or refusal at EU external borders, replacing manual passport stamping. The system will be introduced gradually from 12 October 2025 and must be fully operational by 10 April 2026[6]. This means U.S. travellers will encounter automated border gates requiring fingerprint and face scans, and their stay duration will be calculated automatically. The aim is to prevent overstays and allow law‑enforcement agencies to access travel histories.
Following close behind is ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System). The official EU travel portal indicates that ETIAS will start operating in the final quarter of 2026, and once active, nationals of visa‑waiver countries (including U.S. citizens) must apply for digital travel authorisation before boarding flights to the Schengen Area[7]. Applicants will have to provide personal data, travel history, answers to questions about criminal convictions and past travels in conflict zones, and pay a €20 fee; travellers under 18 or over 70 are exempt[8]. Applications are expected to be processed automatically within minutes, but some may require manual review. ETIAS approval will be valid for three years or until the passport expires, and carriers will have to verify authorisations before boarding. These measures collectively aim to mirror ESTA by screening visitors before arrival, but their simultaneous introduction with EES will add complexity for transatlantic travellers.
Post‑Brexit Britain is implementing its own digital border. A UK Home Office announcement sets out that from 25 February 2026, travellers from the United States and other visa‑exempt nations must hold an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling to the UK[9]. The ETA costs £16 and must be obtained via an official smartphone app. Most applications will be approved automatically within minutes, and carriers will check ETAs before allowing boarding[9]. British and Irish citizens are exempt, but U.S. citizens will have to complete yet another pre‑trip authorisation for any UK visit, whether flying to London or connecting through Heathrow. This change aligns the UK with U.S. and EU pre‑screening practices and further increases administrative steps for travellers.
Beyond digital authorisations, travellers must budget for new taxes and fees across Europe in 2026. Amsterdam provides a relative exception: the city’s official budget indicates that municipal taxes, including the tourism levy, will only increase by 3.69 percent to account for inflation[10]. For visitors to the Dutch capital, the cost difference will be modest. However, the Netherlands at national level has introduced a dramatic Value‑Added Tax (VAT) increase on overnight accommodation. The Dutch government’s enterprise agency confirms that from 1 January 2026, VAT on stays in hotels, holiday homes, bed‑and‑breakfasts, guesthouses and hostels rises from 9 percent to 21 percent[11]. Only camping sites keep the 9 percent rate. This change applies even to bookings made before 2026 if the stay occurs after 1 January, so American travellers planning spring or summer trips will face significantly higher accommodation bills.
Spain’s Catalonia region, which includes Barcelona, is also preparing substantial increases. A table released by the Catalan Tax Agency lists existing rates as of October 2024: 5‑star hotels pay €3.50 per person per night plus a €4.00 Barcelona city surcharge, totalling €7.50[12]; 4‑star hotels pay €1.70 plus the €4.00 surcharge (≈€5.70), and hostels and campsites pay lower amounts[12]. The regional parliament later agreed to double the base tax from April 2026. According to reports on legislative negotiations, the combined general tax and city surcharge in Barcelona could reach up to €15 per person per night[13]. Approximately 25 percent of the revenue will be allocated to housing policies, with the remainder funding tourism management[13]. The increase, delayed from 2025 to April 2026, means travellers arriving after that date will pay considerably more for hotel stays in Barcelona, Sitges or other Catalan destinations.
France’s capital is also raising charges. The French economy ministry’s published tariff schedule for Paris from 1 January 2026 includes departmental and regional surcharges totalling 25 percent plus a large regional supplement of 200 percent, resulting in steep final amounts. For example, a “palace” hotel (ultra‑luxury category) will charge €15.93 per person per night, a 5‑star hotel €11.70, and a 4‑star hotel €8.45[14]. Mid‑range hotels and non‑classified accommodations will charge a percentage of the room cost, capped at €15.93[14]. These surcharges will be added to the base tourism tax. Paris remains one of the world’s most visited cities; the new rates will raise accommodation costs for Americans visiting the 2026 Olympics or simply enjoying the city.
The United Kingdom itself is considering local tourism taxes. A consultation document on an overnight visitor levy explains that the government plans to empower mayors of English counties and cities to introduce their own visitor levies. The consultation, open from 26 November 2025 to 18 February 2026, explores how such levies should be designed[15][16]. There is no national tax yet, but large cities like London or Manchester could adopt per‑night fees similar to those in Paris or Rome. The government argues that levies would fund transport and cultural services used by tourists[15]. Travellers should monitor developments because new local taxes could emerge after the consultation closes.
Other cities are introducing more targeted measures. Edinburgh will implement Scotland’s first visitor levy under the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act. From 24 July 2026, a 5 percent charge will apply to all paid overnight accommodation—including hotels, self‑catering apartments, bed‑and‑breakfasts, hostels, holiday lets and caravans—and will be levied on the first five nights of each stay[17][18]. Stays booked before 1 October 2025 for dates after the levy begins are exempt[18]. Revenue must be reinvested in facilities and services that visitors use[17]. Edinburgh’s levy will add to costs for visitors drawn by its festivals and historic attractions.
Overtourism is prompting Italian cities to impose entry fees. Venice introduced a day‑tripper fee as a pilot in 2024 and will continue this experiment in 2026. Under the city’s access plan, day‑trippers must pay a fee (around €5) on weekends from April through July, typically from 08:30 to 16:00, before entering the historic centre. Residents, overnight visitors, students and workers are exempt, and the city restricts access to 60 days a year during peak months. The scheme aims to control crowds and preserve Venice’s fragile infrastructure. Though the precise amount may be modest, the requirement to pre‑book and pay adds another administrative step for U.S. visitors taking day trips from cruise ships or nearby resorts.
Rome is following suit by focusing on iconic sites rather than the entire city. According to municipal announcements, from 1 February 2026 a €2 ticket will be required to descend the steps around the Trevi Fountain between 09:00 and 21:00; residents are exempt[19]. The city also plans to charge €5 to access five lesser‑known historic sites such as the Quattro Fiumi fountain and the Acqua Paola fountain[20]. Tickets will be sold online and through hotels, and proceeds will fund maintenance and crowd management. These measures show how major destinations are monetising access to landmarks in response to mass tourism.
The policy shifts described above reveal a convergence of two trends: security‑driven digital border controls and revenue‑oriented local taxes. In 2026, U.S. authorities will collect unprecedented amounts of personal data from European travellers, including photos, social media histories and biometrics, and require mobile‑based applications. European and UK governments will reciprocate by requiring ETIAS and ETA approvals and scanning fingerprints and faces at automated gates. Simultaneously, many European cities and regions are raising accommodation taxes and introducing specific entry fees. From Catalonia doubling its tourist tax to Paris adding substantial surcharges, the Netherlands increasing VAT on lodging, and Edinburgh introducing a 5 percent levy, costs for visitors are climbing. Even day trips to Venice or a stroll around Rome’s Trevi Fountain will come with fees.
For travellers planning transatlantic trips in 2026, these developments mean higher costs and more administrative steps. Advance research and budgeting will be essential: visitors should apply for the correct authorisations well before departure, ensure passports remain valid for the required period, and factor in local taxes when choosing accommodations. Tour operators and airlines may need to update booking systems to collect new data and verify digital permits. While the measures aim to enhance security and manage tourism sustainably, they also risk deterring spontaneous travel and may shift demand to destinations with lower taxes. Awareness and preparation will be key to navigating the evolving travel landscape in 2026.
Federal Register notice on Electronic System for Travel Authorization reforms[1][21].Federal Register details on mandatory social media and biometric data for ESTA[3].Federal Register information about voluntary self‑report exit pilot[5].European Commission explanation of the Entry/Exit System (EES)[6].EU travel portal details on ETIAS timeline and fees[7][8].UK Home Office announcement on Electronic Travel Authorisation[9].Netherlands government information about VAT increase on accommodation[11].Catalan Tax Agency table of tourist tax rates[12].Legislative reports on Catalonia’s tax doubling from April 2026[13].French economy ministry tariff schedule for 2026 Paris tourist tax[14].UK consultation document on overnight visitor levy[15][16].City of Edinburgh Council details about the visitor levy[17][18].Euronews/municipal statements on Rome’s Trevi Fountain fee[19][20].Amsterdam city budget statement on inflationary increase of tourist tax[10].
