I'm hearing rumours about a "Tourist Tax" in Portugal

[Stingo]

Discussed briefly at my local boozer this evening (fueled by cheap beer and wine): There are rumours in Portugal that the gubbermunt are debating a tourist tax. Locals and residents that present their Resident's Card won't have to pay it in hotels, bars, restaurants etc. Tourists (and locals that don't have their cards on them) will have an additional percentage added to their tab in the form of a Tourist Tax.
The locals think it's a terrible idea that will drive the tourists to Spain, or worse; The Canaries!
Have any of you that live in Portugal heard anything?

 

[Graham376]

Lisbon already has a tourist/bed tax and I think Porto may have so, likely to be introduced in Algarve. Spain IIRC has 10% tax.

 

[Sailfree]

Discussed briefly at my local boozer this evening (fueled by cheap beer and wine): There are rumours in Portugal that the gubbermunt are debating a tourist tax. Locals and residents that present their Resident's Card won't have to pay it in hotels, bars, restaurants etc. Tourists (and locals that don't have their cards on them) will have an additional percentage added to their tab in the form of a Tourist Tax.
The locals think it's a terrible idea that will drive the tourists to Spain, or worse; The Canaries!
Have any of you that live in Portugal heard anything?

I think that would be too hard to administer. A bed tax is far easier and used in many places eg Venice. If your resident you don't need a bed!!

 

[Graham376]

There's an article about it here - Algarve tourist tax proposal - The Portugal News

 

[Clancy Moped]

Discussed briefly at my local boozer this evening (fueled by cheap beer and wine): There are rumours in Portugal that the gubbermunt are debating a tourist tax. Locals and residents that present their Resident's Card won't have to pay it in hotels, bars, restaurants etc. Tourists (and locals that don't have their cards on them) will have an additional percentage added to their tab in the form of a Tourist Tax.
The locals think it's a terrible idea that will drive the tourists to Spain, or worse; The Canaries!
Have any of you that live in Portugal heard anything?

It already happens in Spain...

 

[tkalfaoglu]

That stinks -- Turkey is implementing something like that..

 

[Stingo]

That stinks -- Turkey is implementing something like that..

At this point, it's only rumours, but if I hear anything reliable, I'll post a link

 

[Graham376]

At this point, it's only rumours, but if I hear anything reliable, I'll post a link

Not rumours, fact. Faro pulled in close to €1m this year. Faro rakes in €1 million in tourist taxes - The Portugal News

 

[Stingo]

Not rumours, fact. Faro pulled in close to €1m this year. Faro rakes in €1 million in tourist taxes - The Portugal News

There we go, a reliable link. Thank you, Graham, much appreciated.

 

[shan]

Oh you lot do get yourselves into a froth. It's more than likely to be administered by hotels/holiday rentals/etc as a nominal fee per night. It's not unique and is done in many cities and countries.

 

[tkalfaoglu]

Not rumours, fact. Faro pulled in close to €1m this year. Faro rakes in €1 million in tourist taxes - The Portugal News

Sure.. Turkey’s new tax on accommodation services to come into force in January

 

[Graham376]

Oh you lot do get yourselves into a froth. It's more than likely to be administered by hotels/holiday rentals/etc as a nominal fee per night. It's not unique and is done in many cities and countries.

Agreed. Unless tourist tax is to be imposed on marina foreign visitors (which I hope is not the case) it won't change anything for the sailing community.

 

[Stingo]

Simply flashing your Residence Card means you're not a tourist, i.e. no tourist tax

 

[Sailfree]

Simply flashing your Residence Card means you're not a tourist, i.e. no tourist tax

It might be simply put on every room let including abnb otherwise it's as the discretion of every hotel etc whether to apply it dependant on home address given or stated.

 

[Clancy Moped]

Will €2 even buy you a beer?

 

[Graham376]

Will €2 even buy you a beer?

Duas Imperias (2 x 220ml from the pump) if you avoid tourist bars.

 

[Clancy Moped]

There's no love for it Mallorca, it was originally sold as an Eco tax to spend on environmental issues, but it just get swallowed into the general pot.

 

[shan]

Simply flashing your Residence Card means you're not a tourist, i.e. no tourist tax

Not really - if you go stay overnight in a hotel/Airbnb/rented accommodation in another City that has a tourist tax, you will still be charged it because, you're essentially visiting that city as a tourist - whether you are a resident or citizen is irrelevant.

 

[srm]

Not really - if you go stay overnight in a hotel/Airbnb/rented accommodation in another City that has a tourist tax, you will still be charged it because, you're essentially visiting that city as a tourist - whether you are a resident or citizen is irrelevant.

That was my experience in Porto a few years ago ( a couple of months before Covid lock down).
If I remember correctly the tax was made as a separate payment to the accommodation fee.

 

[Irish Rover]

Sure.. Turkey’s new tax on accommodation services to come into force in January

Just another tax on top of the many others which have to be absorbed by hotels in Türkiye. As far as I'm aware hotels are not planning to bill this tax separately but obviously it will be reflected in the room rate charged to tour operators and guests.
One plus, as I see it, is that the tax is a % rather than a crude per diem charge. It means people on a budget booking cheaper room-only accommodation will not be paying the same as those staying in ultra all-inclusive 5 star resorts.