“In 2019, it was decided to move forward with the application of the tourist tax, ending that intention because it was suspended because of the [covid-19] pandemic, but we believe that it is time to return to its application, with a value common to all” , the mayor of Olhão told Lusa.

According to António Pina, the collection of a tourist tax in the region - which is already applied in the municipalities of Faro and Vila Real de Santo António -, was once again “on the table”, however, “it will only be applied after talks with all partners in the tourism sector”.

“We will first talk to tourism partners, but the intention is to apply it with the same value for all municipalities”, he underlined, adding, however, that there is no unanimity among the Algarve municipalities, namely on the part of the Silves Chamber, whose executive “opposes its collection”.

“The decision is not AMAL's, it is for each of the municipalities. AMAL only tries to agree on the criteria for its application, but if there are municipalities that do not apply the tax, they do not apply it”, noted the president of the organisation that integrates the 16 municipalities in the Algarve.

According to António Pina, the collection of the municipal fee for each overnight stay in tourist establishments in the municipalities may give rise to “some joint measures that are being considered by the municipalities and applied in the Algarve”.

“We consider the creation of a regional fund that can serve to promote the region, as well as the replenishment of beaches with sand or even issues related to Civil Protection”, he stressed.

€2 tax

The mayor also said that the value “has not yet been defined”, but argues that “two euros would be a fair value, similar to what happens in the municipality of Lisbon”.

“The matter continues to be discussed and, in my opinion, there should be a unanimous value to be applied as early as next year”, concluded António Pina.

Currently, Faro and Vila Real de Santo António are the only municipalities in the Algarve where a tourist tax is being charged, with Vila Real de Santo António being the first municipality in the region to proceed with the tax, in 2019.

In Faro, the fee was implemented in March 2020, but suspended the following month, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and resumed in March 2022.

With a value of 1.5 euros per night and for each guest - although there are exceptions - the tourist tax in Faro is charged from March to October, only for the first seven days of stay.