If you’re French tourists Visitax to a French region this year, chances are you will be asked to pay the tourist tax. It is a tax claimed by the state government to cover expenses related to the rental of seasonal accommodations, such as hotels and furnished rentals. This type of tourism tax is now claimed in several French towns and regions, mainly those with a tourist vocation.

Paris Tourist Tax: What You Need to Know

For travelers visiting the French capital, it’s important to know that the 2024 tourist taxes have been increased. The tax, which covers stays in hotel rooms and other lodging, has jumped by almost 200 percent from the previous rate. The hike is a part of efforts to boost tourism and promote the city’s sustainability.

The visitor tax is called the “taxe de sejour” and it’s levied by local authorities on the cities or regions that are recognized as ‘tourist towns’ or’resorts’. The money collected is used for the modernisation of tourist services, as well as for other projects that are directly related to tourist arrivals, such as the maintenance of beaches and other infrastructure.

The tax also applies to accommodation providers like vacation rental platforms who must calculate and collect the stay tax “au reel” for every listing they have on their site. In France, this is done by completing an online form on the Atout France website using their property classification rating. Each department sets the minimum threshold that accommodations must reach to be subject to this tourist tax.