Offenbach proposes €2 nightly fee for tourists starting in 2026
Offenbach is planning a new tourism fee for visitors staying overnight in the city. The city aims to charge around €2 per person per night from April 1, 2026, if approved by state authorities. Officials expect the move to generate roughly €1.3 million in annual revenue.
The proposal follows discussions between the city and local industry groups. Initially, a broader accommodation tax was considered, but feedback led to a more targeted tourism fee. To implement it, Offenbach must first be classified as a 'tourist destination' by the state of Hesse—a status it qualifies for due to its museums, event spaces, and recreational sites.
The city recorded around 625,000 overnight stays in 2024, meeting another key requirement. In October, Offenbach submitted its application to the Kassel Regional Council, with a final decision expected from the Hessian Ministry of Economics in early 2026.
Industry associations have welcomed the city’s collaborative approach to designing the fee. If approved, the funds will support cultural, tourist, and leisure projects across Offenbach.
The fee would place Offenbach alongside other Hessian destinations like Rheingau and Deidesheim, which already charge similar levies. The city now awaits official confirmation of its tourist destination status before moving forward. Revenue from the fee is set to enhance local attractions and services for visitors.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.