Albufeira starts charging a two-euro tourist tax on May 21

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The Albufeira City Council, in the district of Faro, plans to start charging a tourist tax of two euros for overnight stays in the municipality during the high season, from May 21, it was announced today.

The regulation that defines the conditions under which the tax will apply was published today in the Diário da República, with May 2 as the date on which it will come into force.

However, the Albufeira City Council said in a statement today that the application “is suspended until May 20, as some constraints have arisen in the use of the payment software”.

As a result, “the start date for collection is expected to be May 21,” said the mayor, José Carlos Rolo, quoted in the note.

Albufeira is considered the “tourism capital” of the Algarve, with over 150 hotels and more than 9,000 local accommodations.

With the entry into force of the tourist tax, Albufeira joined the group of Algarve municipalities that receive a fee for overnight stays by tourists in the municipality, along with Portimão, Lagoa, Vila Real de Santo António, Faro and Olhão.

According to the regulation, the fee is two euros between April 1st and October 31st and will be charged for a maximum of seven consecutive nights to all guests aged 13 and over.

The measure applies to paid overnight stays in tourist resorts, local accommodation establishments, campsites and caravan parks, regardless of the booking method (in person, analog or digital).

Guests whose stay is motivated by medical treatment, extending to a companion, upon presentation of a document proving the appointment/provision of medical services or an equivalent document, are exempt from the fee.

The measure also applies to guests who fall ill during their stay or need medical attention, upon presentation of a document proving this and for the duration of their stay.

According to the municipality, the money raised from the tourist tax will be invested “in accessibility projects and the enhancement of the coastline, in actions in the field of climate change, sustainability and mobility and support for the rescue and emergency forces”.

The investments also cover the areas of “health support, cultural heritage and the promotion of cultural and sporting activities, tourism promotion and enhancement and new tourism products”, the note concludes.

To clear up any doubts about the tourist tax coming into force, the municipality is organizing events for hotel and local accommodation managers on May 10 and 14.

Moti Shabi
Moti Shabi
Moti Shabi

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