The proposal, Portugal Resident reports, has been confirmed by the mayor of Olhao, Antonio Pina, who also heads up the Algarve Municipalities Association (Amal).
Currently, only Faro and Vila Real de Santo Antonio in the Algarve charge visitors a fee. Amal, though, is proposing to allow other regions in the Algarve to introduce a charge next year
The current levy is an up-to-€2-a-day fee, which can be charged for a maximum of seven days. It applies to all adult visitors, and youngsters aged 12 and above.
According to Portugal Resident, Amal is seeking consensus on other municipalities being able to introduce a charge. It will then be down to individual authorities to decide whether or not to enforce it.
The proceeds would go to a regional fund, which could be used to promote the region or to fund matters relating to civil protection – such as mitigating and fighting wildfires.
Such a tax was discussed in 2019 but was shelved following the onset of Covid-19. Algarve Tourism chief Joao Fernandes questioned the timing of Amal’s intervention.
"It does not seem like the best time to be returning to this topic," he said, highlighting how travel and tourism was still tentatively emerging from the pandemic.
