If you’ve ever felt the pull of wanderlust — the urge to pack a bag, pick a plane, and lose yourself in sun-drenched streets or snowy mountains — then 2025 might just be your moment. But here’s the catch: some of the world’s most coveted travel destinations are putting new price tags on the privilege of visiting. Tax hikes. Entry levies. Hotel surcharges. And they’re coming either this year or early in 2026. So if you’re planning big, you might want to book sooner rather than later — while the wallet still breathes.

Let’s walk through the story, the reasons, and the bucket-list destinations you might want to hit before the tourist tax tide pulls in.

Why are tourist taxes rising?

It’s not just airlines raising fares. Governments and local authorities are increasingly introducing or expanding taxes on visitors — for a variety of reasons.

Overtourism: Places once quiet are now overrun — locals losing their sense of home, infrastructure creaking.  

Sustainability: To fund maintaining ancient sites, protecting ecosystems, upgrading transport, and offsetting the environmental costs of large visitor numbers.  

Infrastructure & community pressure: Hotels, roads, waste systems, heritage sites all strain under heavy tourism. Taxing visitors becomes a tool to distribute cost more fairly.  

So yes: when you’re travelling, you’re not just paying for your flight and hotel — you might also be covering the broader cost of tourism. And destinations are increasingly saying: “Pass the cap, and that’s on you.”

What’s changing — and where

Here are some of the key places where you’ll see tax or fee changes on the horizon. If one of these is already on your list, you might want to move up your timeframe.

Japan: New hotel tax structures, and other visitor-levies, are set to roll out — especially places like Kyoto. 

Thailand: A tourist fee of ~300 baht for international arrivals has been flagged, part of new levies from early 2026.  

Greece: Increased tourism tax on lodging and new cruise disembarkation fees already in effect for 2025.  

Spain: Regions like the Balearics are planning to hike overnight tourist levies (even up to +200 %) in some cases.  

Venice / Italy: The day-tripper entry fee has been expanded, with higher charges for non-overnight visitors. 

Edinburgh / Scotland: Plans to introduce a visitor levy (tax) for overnight stays from July 2026.  

Your 2025 Bucket List – Hit these before the tax wave

Okay, here come some destinations worth ticking off now — before the hikes bite. I’ll pull in some mini-itinerary ideas, so you feel inspired and ready.

Japan
Explore Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka. Soak in an onsen (hot spring), wander through temples and castles, maybe hit the snow up north or the cherry blossoms in spring. But note: higher hotel taxes are coming — which means the “book now” window is tilted.

Thailand
From beach islands like Phuket or Krabi to historic Chiang Mai and Ayutthaya — you’ve got culture, food, nature. Grab that trip while the entry fee is still relatively moderate.

Greece
Athens’ Acropolis, island-hopping (Santorini, Crete, Rhodes). While you’re at it, sample the food, dive into history, enjoy the Mediterranean vibe — before costs inch up.

Spain
Andalusia (Seville, Granada, Córdoba), the Pyrenees or ski slopes, beach retreats. Spain’s regional tourist taxes are rising, so lock something in early.

Venice
A dream place: canals, gondolas, old-world charm. But the city is cracking down on day-trippers and imposing fees for high-traffic days. Better stay overnight to experience it fully.

How to make this work (no fluff)

Here are some actionable tips — because you’re not just reading, you’re doing.

Book early: The sooner you lock flights + accommodation, the less likely you are to get hit by surprise levies.

Check accommodation listings carefully: Many places may show a base price but not explicitly show taxes or upcoming fee hikes. Especially in Greece’s case. 

Consider timing: Travel outside peak months may help avoid the highest surcharges (some taxes vary by season).

Stay overnight where possible: In places like Venice, day-visit fees are being imposed; staying overnight may avoid or reduce the extra charge.

Think about value: If the destination is rising in cost due to tax hikes, focus on getting the fullest experience rather than cutting corners that reduce your enjoyment.

Budget the tax: When planning your budget, add a buffer for tourist tax increases. What seems like a small €2 or ¥200 today may evolve.

Final word

2025 isn’t just “another year” for travel. It’s a cusp. A doorway. One side is the travel we’ve always known — flights, hotels, sunlit streets — relatively stable. The other side? A version that includes extra levies, fees, and perhaps more mindful tourist behaviour. If you ride through early, you get the flavour of places before those new layers of cost and regulation settle in.

So: if you’ve been holding back, waiting for the “right time” — this is that right time. Pick your place, book your dates, go make some memories before the tourist-tax shadow grows heavier.

Where do you want to start? I can pull up top 10 deals, tax-aware itineraries, or off-beat destinations with minimal tax risk if you like.