Across the country, at least 26 municipalities charge for overnight stays in tourist accommodation, but the number is set to increase soon, with Alentejo the only region where the measure is not applied or discouraged.
According to calculations carried out by the Lusa agency (including charges in force this month), of the 278 municipalities on the continent, 24 already apply the tourist tax, some will start applying it this year – such as Loulé (November), Setúbal and Caminha (September) – and others plan to start next year.
In the autonomous region of Madeira, two of the 11 municipalities currently charge a fee of two euros per night for a maximum of seven nights (14 euros). In the municipality of Santa Cruz, the measure came into force in 2016, initially at one euro per night, while in the municipality of Santana it has been in effect since June of this year.
In the remaining municipalities of Madeira, with the exception of Porto Moniz, where the possible introduction of the tax is still being considered, the tourist tax will be applied between September and October, while in other cases it is scheduled for January 2025.
In Funchal, the region’s main municipality, the measure will come into force on October 1.
In the Azores, none of the 19 municipalities currently levy any taxes, but the municipalities of the largest island, São Miguel, have unanimously decided to do so from January 1, 2025, with some already having their rules in place.
In the case of Ponta Delgada, the municipality “is developing an administrative procedure to submit to the next municipal assembly a regulation on the tourist tax in the municipality, which will be identical to all municipalities on the island of São Miguel.” from the presidential administration.
Some municipalities in the Azores had planned to introduce a tourist tax in June, but backed down on their position, asking for clarification, due to disagreements that arose after the Regional Legislative Assembly approved a diploma providing for the introduction of a regional tourist tax.
Each municipality in the country sets its own rate and determines application standards, but there are common criteria for all, such as exemption from payment for children (in some cases, payment begins at age 12, in others later) and people with disabilities equal to or more than 60%, in addition to citizens undergoing treatment.
There are also municipalities that exclude the tourist tax, for at least one night, for those making a religious pilgrimage to Fatima or Santiago de Compostela, as is the case with Porto (and, since September, Caminha).
The Municipality of Viana do Castelo also exempts from the tax, in addition to all other exceptions, those who, due to conflict and forced to leave their countries of origin, temporarily reside in Portugal.
The maximum fee charged until this month in Portugal is 2.5 euros per night, which is the case in Vila Nova de Gaia, where this fee is called a city tax, and a tax of 1.25 euros is charged for overnight stays motivated by professional, academic or social interests, sporting, cultural or other activities that are not primarily of a tourist nature.
Lisbon, which initially charged one euro per night (2016), increased the amount to two euros in January 2019 and will remain so in September this year with the rate set at four euros. It will then be the municipality with the highest contribution per night.
The minimum fee you may pay at hotels or local accommodation including campsites, caravan parks and motorhome service areas is 50 cents.
The fee also varies depending on the number of nights paid: from three to seven, except in Vila do Conde, where it reaches 14 nights.
In the Algarve, a popular tourist destination for nationals and foreigners, only six of the 16 municipalities currently charge a nightly fee. Loulé will start charging two euros in November.
In the municipalities of Albufeira, Lagoa, Portimão, Olhão and Vila Real de Santo António, visitors pay two euros in high season (April to October) and one euro in low season (November to March).
Faro already charges €1.50 per night for a year, and the first municipality in the Algarve to introduce a tourist tax, Vila Real de Santo António, charges one euro, except for campsites, caravan parks and motorhomes, where the fee is 50 cents.
In the Alentejo region, where in June of this year, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE), there were about 347 thousand overnight stays in tourist establishments with 10 or more beds, there is not a single municipality that implements or has already approved a tourist tax.
The country’s list of collectors up to this month also includes Amarante, Povoa de Varzim, Maia, Braga, Figueira da Foz, Coimbra, Peniche, Óbidos, Loures, Oeiras, Cascais, Mafra and Sintra.
The municipality of Terras de Bouro, which includes the village of Geres, is currently preparing regulations for a municipal tourist tax, which will be implemented in the near future.
Matosinhos and Baiao are among the areas where visitors will start paying fees in 2025.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Dave Martin, and I’m an experienced journalist working in the news industry. As a part of my work, I write for 24 News Reporters, covering mostly sports-related topics. With more than 5 years of experience as a journalist, I have written numerous articles on various topics to provide accurate information to readers.