Travellers planning a visit to Romania’s capital from next year will face an additional nightly charge, after Bucharest’s municipal authorities approved a new tourist tax aimed at boosting the city’s international profile.
The General Council of Bucharest adopted the measure on 23 December, only days after the draft proposal was first published. From 2026, visitors staying overnight in the city will be required to pay a fixed tourist tax of 10 Romanian Leu, roughly equivalent to two euros, per night.
City officials say the levy is expected to generate around 15 million Romanian Leu annually, close to 2.9 million euros, which will be earmarked for promoting Bucharest as a tourist destination. However, the speed at which the tax was approved and the lack of detail surrounding how the funds will be spent have prompted criticism from parts of the tourism industry.
How the new tourist tax will work
Under the new system, every tourist staying in registered accommodation in Bucharest will pay the same amount per night, regardless of the price category of the hotel or rental property. This differs from tourist taxes in many other European cities, where charges are often linked to accommodation cost or hotel star rating.
The tax will be collected directly by accommodation providers, as well as by online booking platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com, or through travel agencies. According to local media, individuals who fail to comply could face fines of up to 1,500 Romanian Leu, while businesses may be fined as much as 4,000 Romanian Leu.
Deputy Mayor Stelian Bujduveanu has defended the measure, arguing that the new tax will generate added value for the city. He said the revenue would support promotional campaigns and events designed to increase Bucharest’s visibility and competitiveness on the European city break market.
Industry backlash and transparency concerns
Despite these assurances, the introduction of the tax has been met with resistance from hotel operators and tourism representatives. The Federation of the Romanian Hotel Industry has warned that the measure risks undermining Bucharest’s recent tourism growth, particularly if the funds are not managed transparently.
Industry leaders argue that the legislation was adopted hastily and without sufficient consultation. They also point to the absence of a clear and publicly available strategy detailing how the revenue will be invested. According to the federation, tourism development requires long term planning and partnership rather than what it described as administrative improvisation.
The federation has also expressed concern that the tax could make Bucharest less competitive at a time when travellers are increasingly price sensitive, particularly in the city break segment.
A familiar idea with mixed results
While the new tax has sparked debate, it is not the first time Bucharest has attempted to use a tourism levy to fund promotion. A similar tax was introduced in 2017, representing one percent of accommodation prices, with the aim of marketing the city abroad.
At the time, city officials acknowledged that previous versions of the tax had generated around one million euros per year but had largely gone unused for tourism promotion. Authorities pledged to change that approach by investing in marketing campaigns, digital promotion, international tourism fairs and partnerships with airlines and travel agencies.
Bucharest has seen steady growth in visitor numbers over the past decade. Between 2009 and 2016, it ranked among Europe’s fastest growing destinations for international arrivals. Yet despite rising visitor numbers, spending by foreign tourists has historically lagged behind comparable cities in the region.
In recent years, Bucharest has attracted renewed attention thanks to its affordability, diverse architecture, vibrant nightlife and a growing social media presence, including viral exposure for its large thermal spa complex.
