Lisbon City Council wants to double the tourist tax, increasing it from two to four euros per night, municipal executive chairman Carlos Moedas (PSD) said on Tuesday, arguing that the increase is “fair” for the city.
“Increasing the tourist tax is fair for the people of Lisbon, it’s fair for the city, that’s why I took this decision, but obviously I want to do it in great consensus with those who are the most important people in this sector, from hotels to restaurants,” Carlos Moedas told reporters on the sidelines of a visit to the construction of a new municipal kindergarten in Lumiara.
A proposal to change the price of Lisbon’s tourist tax will be discussed at a closed meeting of the municipal executive on Wednesday and, if approved, will be subject to a “30-day public consultation period” to collect contributions before it goes ahead. by virtue of.
“I will always do everything to reduce taxes for the people of Lisbon, I did this by reducing the I.R.S. [imposto sobre o rendimento das pessoas singulares]which we already have at 4.5%, and by the end of the term we will reach 5%, but at the same time tourists must contribute more to our city,” said the mayor, who governs without an absolute majority.
As for what is planned to be done with the amount collected from the tourist tax, Carlos Moedas said that, firstly, it will be used to clean up the city and that part of the money will be used to continue the growth of tourist centers, giving for example the Royal Treasury Museum. which was paid for by the tourist tax.
According to the proposal to which Lusa had access, signed by the Chamber’s vice-president, Filipe Anacoreta Correia (CDS-PP), in charge of finance, the “numerous problems” of tourism currently force a revision of the cost of the tourist tax for overnight stays, established in 2018, as well as tourist tax for arrivals by sea, established in 2014″, which is proposed to be increased from two euros to four euros and from one euro to two euros, respectively.”
As for the tourist tax on arrivals by sea, the two euro value that is now proposed to be updated is the amount that began to apply this year, with the introduction of this tax on cruise passengers, which had never been levied before. .
The Chamber also proposes to include campgrounds, hotel boats and similar entities among the entities responsible for collecting fees.
The municipality also proposes to introduce two new exceptions: the declaration of a state of emergency under civil protection or a social emergency and national and foreign students enrolling in higher education institutions in the city.
The update of the tourist tax aims to adjust the amount charged to tourists “with the current expenditure of resources in the municipality within the framework of the growing expression of tourism and the associated increase and improvement of supply, on the basis of proportionality, consideration and balance,” the proposal states.
Viewing tourism as a “distinctive factor for a city’s competitiveness and an engine of economic and social growth,” the chamber highlights the “strong impact” in terms of government intervention to maintain adequate levels of response.
This requires “defining regulatory policies and/or direct government intervention to ensure Lisbon is sustainable economically, socially and environmentally,” he adds.
According to the proposal, “the positive effects of tourism therefore imply the strengthening of urban infrastructure and city functioning, namely increased government intervention in terms of infrastructure, mobility, urban cleaning, public space, security and tourism.” Cultural and leisure offer.”
According to the chamber’s vice president, it is an effort “that should not burden residents, but should be supported by those who directly or proportionately benefit from the goods and services provided by municipal activities.”
The Lisbon tourist tax began to apply in January 2016 for overnight stays by national tourists (including Lisbon residents) and foreigners in hotels or local accommodation facilities.
Initially it was one euro per night, but in January 2019 it increased to two euros.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Tifany Hawkins, a professional journalist with years of experience in news reporting. I currently work for a prominent news website and write articles for 24NewsReporters as an author. My primary focus is on economy-related stories, though I am also experienced in several other areas of journalism.