Lagoa has joined the 5 existing Algarve municipalities charging tourist tax, as of April 13th, reportedly to "allow improvements to be made to municipal public and private assets".
Vila Real de Santo António, Faro, Olhão and Portimão were already charging the tourist tax. Albufeira's mayor, José Carlos Rolo, has revealed plans to start charging a tourist tax in May this year.
In a statement released by the Lagoa municipality, the tourist tax, "is configured as a new source of financing that, in a complementary logic, will allow improvements to be made to municipal public and private assets, in the provision of public information and support services to tourists and cultural and recreational services, in a municipality where tourism plays a fundamental role in the economy".
The tax, whichi is 1 euro per night, per person in low season (between 1 November and 31 March) and 2 euros per night, per person in high season (between 1 April and 31 October), is charged, up to a maximum of seven nights in a row, to all guests aged 13 years or over, staying at tourist resorts and local accommodation establishments, such as: hotels, inns, apartment hotels, tourist villages, tourist apartments, tourist complexes/resorts, residential tourism enterprises, tourism enterprises in rural areas, camping and caravan parks, and local accommodation (house, apartment, accommodation establishments, including hostels).
According to the municipality, those that are exempt from the tax are:
- 12 year olds and under
- guests with disabilities, with a disability equal to or greater than 60%
- national and foreign students who enter the University of Algarve and who use tourist resorts and local accommodation establishments at the beginning of each academic year, up to a maximum of 60 consecutive days
- guests whose stay is motivated by medical treatment, including an accompanying person
- guests whose stay is the subject of a proven offer by a tourist enterprise or local accommodation establishment
The collection of the fee, which is then paid to the Municipality of Lagoa, is done by tourist establishments on an electronic platform created by the municipality for this purpose. For this service they are owed a commission of 2.5%, plus VAT at the legal rate in force.
