The planned implementation of a tourist tax in Baião, Porto, originally scheduled for this year, has been indefinitely suspended due to the impact of the 2024 forest fires, the municipality has announced.
A representative from the local government explained that the decision not to proceed with the tax was made in response to concerns expressed by some tourism operators following the fires in September 2024.
“There were operators who began to report cancellations of reservations after the fires, and it was decided, following discussions with them, to suspend the measure to prevent a negative impact on the economy,” the source noted.
When asked about a new date for implementing the tax, which had been deliberated by the municipal bodies, the representative mentioned that the decision would need to be pre-agreed with the operators.
In August 2024, the municipality had announced plans to introduce a tax in 2025, ranging from one to 1.5 euros per night spent in the area, up to a maximum of three nights.
