U.S, Dec. 30 -- From Edinburgh to Kyoto, Barcelona to Bangkok, governments are quietly adding new fees to manage crowds, fund infrastructure, and respond to resident backlash.

By 2026, travelers planning international vacations may discover that the true cost of travel no longer ends with airfare and hotel rates. Across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, governments are expanding tourist taxes - levies once considered marginal but now increasingly central to how destinations finance tourism and control overcrowding.

The trend reflects a broader recalibration of global travel policy, as cities and countries seek to balance booming visitor numbers with strained infrastructure, housing shortages and growing public opposition to mass tourism....