The party explains that the proposal is for the eco-tax to have a unit value of three euros per passenger, the amount of which "will be channelled towards financing utilities generated with activities related to the tourism sector, with a special focus on areas of greater demand and tourist affluence".

It is also intended to channel funds to "support projects by entities, public or private, whose objective is environmental preservation", defends PAN.

In justifying the proposal, the party points out that cruise tourism "is demonstrably a source of air, sea and land pollution, with a strong ecological footprint".

"Cruise ships, despite representing a small percentage of the global shipping industry, are one of the most polluting, accounting for around 24% of all waste originating from maritime navigation and for the emission of greenhouse gases. In 2018 alone, and in reference to European Union ports, cruise ships emitted more than 139 tonnes of CO2", warns the party.

In addition, there are still "potential risks to the well-being of human and animal health", as well as "the pressure exerted" on the natural heritage and "the impact generated on local communities, with the expansion of this activity".

The party claims that "despite the risks already documented, and even though it is committed to investing in sustainable tourism", the Regional Government (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM) has been "promoting and consolidating the region as an attractive place for this tourism segment, with clear results in the increase in the number of stopovers, which reached a record 200 arrivals this year".