Anger as Paris tourist tax soars ahead of the Olympic Games in "hard blow"

British tourists will have to pay a hefty tourist tax in 2024 after the French capital hiked fees ahead of the upcoming Olympic Games.

The fee varies depending on the type of accommodation with tourists paying the highest price for luxury hotels, Daily Express reports.

Tourists that stay in a palace, a prestigious five-star hotel with special features, will now pay 14.95 euros (£12.85) extra per night.

It’s nearly tripled from last year when the tax was just five euros (£4.30) per night to stay in a palace-style hotel.

A four-star hotel will now incur a nightly fee of 8.13 euros (£6.99) up from last year’s 2.88 euro (£2.48) tax.

France’s hotel sector has reacted angrily to the tax increases in a statement that called the charges a “huge blow”.

In a joint statement, the Union des Métiers et des Industries de l'Hôtellerie (UMIH) and Groupement National de Chaines Hôtelières (GNC) said: “It is another hard blow for the competitiveness of our sector and for the image of France, at a time when all the spotlights are on Paris 2024.”

Money raised from the tourist tax is used to promote tourism and handle expenses linked to the industry.

Tourist taxes in Paris aren’t always included in the price of the accommodation and travellers may be asked to pay it when they arrive.

Paris will also hike public transport prices during the Olympics with single metro journey tickets set to rise from 2.10 euros (£1.80) to four euros (£3.44).

Residents with annual or monthly passes will not be impacted by the change which will be in place from July 20 to September 8.

Paris is already one of Europe’s most expensive holiday destinations and visitors have been warned of soaring prices for hotel rooms during the Games.