The tourist fee will begin to be charged in Santiago de Compostela from October 1, 2025. The announcement was made by Tourism Councilwoman, Miriam Louzão, who confirmed the change in the date initially scheduled for August, thus yielding to the requests of professionals in the hotel sector. According to El Confidential, the decision came after an open meeting with local accommodation representatives, who expressed concern for operational overload in the middle of summer.
The measure, which will still have to be formally approved at the Plenary Session of the City Council scheduled for July 31, establishes a daily payment between 1 and 2.5 euros per traveler, according to the type of establishment. The maximum expected is five consecutive days per stay. Minors of age will be exempt from payment, according to the same source.
Sector pressure advances implementation
The proposal of the tourist rate generated immediate reactions between the tourist operators of the capital Galician, especially for the proximity to the months of most influential, such as August and September. As El Confidential writes, the main criticisms pointed to confirmed reserves without this additional cost forecast, as well as the difficulty in adapting billing systems and reduced teams at the age of high.
The solution found by the municipality will include a final disposition in the legal text that defines the entry into force only for October. Thus, Santiago will become the first local authority of Galicia to apply this rate, but it will do so outside the peak of the tourist season.
Between old stones and life -full streets
In addition to this administrative decision, Santiago de Compostela continues to assert itself as one of the most sought after destinations of the Iberian Peninsula. According to the vacancy worlds, the city’s historic center has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, a statute reinforced in 1993 with the inclusion of the Santiago Caminho in the same list. The city annually receives thousands of pilgrims and visitors, attracted by its religious heritage, but also by the urban and cultural experience that distinguishes it.
The center of the Galician capital, known as the old city, brings together various architectural styles, from the Romanesque to the Baroque, mirrored in churches, convents and palaces. According to the same source, each street invites a route between times, where spirituality mixes with everyday life.
What changes from October
According to the rate, the rate will focus on all tourist accommodation units, including local hotels, hostels and apartments. The specific value will depend on the space category, being 1 euro for more economical housing and can reach 2.5 euros in luxury units. This contribution will be limited to the first five days of stay, regardless of the duration of the visit.
The application of this rate fits a broader movement of European cities that aim to reinforce the sustainability of tourism. Revenue collected should be channeled for heritage preservation actions and improvement of urban services.
Live City, Caredade
Although the city is often associated with religiosity and the historical past, the same publication highlights its contemporary dynamism, with an active cultural agenda and an expressive university life. Tourism, especially linked to the Path of Santiago, remains one of the main sources of income for local commerce.
With the introduction of the rate, Santiago joins other European cities that seek to balance the tourist attractiveness with the need to preserve their urban fabric. For travelers, the measure translates into a slight cost update, but for the city may represent a relevant contribution to keeping alive the inheritance that distinguishes it.
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