Funchal City Council will charge a tourist tax of 2 euros per guest per night, for a maximum of seven nights, from October 1st, the city council (PSD/CDS-PP) said today.
“The municipality estimates an annual income of 13 million euros. This will be two euros per night, for a maximum of seven nights, which includes what will be paid by the tourists on the ferries, and the tourist tax to be charged to passengers on the ferries will only apply from January 1, 2025,” the municipality said in a statement.
The municipal executive, chaired by Cristina Pedra, clarifies that the decision was taken after a meeting with the Commercial and Industrial Association of Funchal – Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Madeira (ACIF-CCIM) on February 20, in which the business entity expressed its support for the introduction of the tourist tax.
“The municipality was sensitive to the arguments presented at the time by ACIF and decided to adjust the entry into force of the tourist tax [initially scheduled for July 1], which will take place on October 1, thus ensuring that there is more than enough time to notify economic agents,” reads the statement.
The municipality also said that it had decided to set up the Municipal Tourism Council (CMT), in which “matters of interest to the trade” will be discussed.
“The CMT will also be a privileged space for non-binding reflection on projects of municipal interest that will be carried out with the funds resulting from the tourist tax,” explains the executive.
On January 10, the Association of Municipalities of the Autonomous Region (AMRAM) announced that the archipelago’s 11 municipalities would start charging a tourist tax of 2 euros from the second half of this year.
“It was agreed that we should have an application of 2 euros per guest per night, for a maximum of seven nights, exempting children up to the age of 13 and also adults for health reasons,” AMRAM said at the time.
Currently, only the municipality of Santa Cruz, in the eastern part of Madeira, led by the JPP, charges a tourist tax.