The proposal by Lisbon’s mayor to charge a tax on inbound toruists may be illegal as European laws ban any national legislation that is discriminatory on the grounds of nationality.
Earlier this month, Portugal's national airports operator ANA surprised us all by stating that it will pay the ‘per head’ tax on tourists arriving at Lisbon airport and estimated that the cost for the next year would be between €3.6 million and €4.4 million.
On a macro level, Brussels and European leaders consider that 'tourist taxes, including local ones, have a negative influence on the competitiveness of the tourism industry.’
The unpopular tax was pushed through in Lisbon by the outgoing mayor António Costa and Portugal’s other councils with ANA run airports on their patches, Oporto, Faro, Madeira, Açores and Beja, would be keen to enter into similar deals with the French owned operator along the lines of the one cut for the capital.
The Lisbon €1 per head tax was to be used for ‘improving and renovating Lisbon’s historic monuments,’ but many are suspicious that the money will be spent on running costs and loan interest.
According to the opinion from Brussels, this sort of tourist tax is a covert form of discrimination which is likely to affect EU citizens more than nationals and place them at a particular disadvantage, hence is illegal.
This opinion will of course be ignored by Portugal but if ANA is told by Brussels not to fund the scheme it is more likely to pay heed.
