As part of the change to the rules, Faro City Council announced yesterday that it will start charging tourist tax all year round, increasing it to €2 per night in high season and €1 in low season, a measure that began on 1st November.
The municipality began charging a tourist tax of €1.5 per overnight stay on March 1st, 2020, a measure that, according to the previous regulation, was only in force between March 1st and October 31st.
Instead of the fee being charged only between March 1st and October 31st, the municipality will also apply the lower fee between November 1st and the last day of February of the following year.
Regarding exemptions, the minimum age for charging the fee has increased from 13 to 16 years old, with national and foreign students who enroll at the University of Algarve and use hotels/hostels, local accommodation or camping and caravan parks during the academic year, now also exempt from payment, providing they can prove this.
The new regulation also exempts guests whose stay is motivated by medical procedures from paying the fee, extending to a companion, provided that proof of the appointment or provision of medical services is presented.
In addition to these, guests whose stay is motivated by relocation in cases of declared disasters and inclement weather and education, health and security forces professionals performing duties in the municipality on a permanent basis, and who use accommodation during the period of validity of the contract are also exempt.
Finally, residents of the municipality of Faro who use tourist developments, local accommodation establishments, campsites and caravan parks are also exempt from paying the municipal tourist tax, provided they present a document proving this.
According to the local authority, the registration and payment mechanisms remain unchanged.
