The City Council of Albufeira, in the district of Faro, plans to start charging, from May 21st, a tourist tax of two euros for overnight stays in the municipality during the high season, it was announced this Tuesday.
The regulation that defines the conditions for the applicability of the fee was published this Tuesday in Diário da República, indicating May 2nd for its entry into force.
However, Albufeira City Council reported today in a statement that the application “is suspended until May 20th, as some constraints have arisen in the use of the payment computer application”.
Thus, “the starting date for collection is expected to be May 21st”, says the president of the municipality, José Carlos Rolo, cited in the note.
Albufeira is considered the “tourism capital city” of the Algarve, having more than 150 hotel units and more than 9,000 local accommodation units.
With the entry into force of charging the tourist tax, Albufeira became part of the group of municipalities in the Algarve that receive a fee for tourists’ overnight stays in the municipality, together with Portimão, Lagoa, Vila Real de Santo António, Faro and Olhão.
According to the regulations, 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 or 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, analogue, or digitally).
Guests whose stay is motivated by medical treatment, including a companion, upon presentation of a document proving the appointment/provision of medical services or equivalent document are exempt from the fee.
The measure also applies to guests who become ill during their stay, or require medical care, upon presentation of supporting documents and during the time they are ill.
According to the municipality, the money raised from the tourist tax will be invested “in accessibility projects and enhancement of the coastline, in actions within the scope of climate change, sustainability and mobility and support for relief and emergency forces”.
The investments also cover the areas of “health support, cultural heritage and promotion of cultural and sporting activities, promotion and enhancement of tourism and new tourist products”, concludes the note.
To clarify doubts about the entry into force of the tourist tax, the municipality will promote actions for those responsible for hotels and local accommodation, on the 10th and 14th of May.
