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Local tourist taxes in Portugal: A systematic review of municipal regulations

Open Access
|Dec 2024

Figures & Tables

Conceptual framework and variable’s explanation_

VariablesExplanationSource
Incidence and age of taxpayersDetermine who is subject to the tourist tax and the age range of those who must pay it.Public Notice n. 1022/2019(2019); Regulation n. 382/2016(2016); Notice n. 5970/2023(2023); Regulation n. 725/2019(2019); Regulation n. 352/2023(2023); Notice n. 19334-A/2018(2018); Regulation n. 207/2023(2023); Regulation n. 773/2018(2018); Regulation n. 1135/2022(2022); Póvoa de Varzim Municipality (2022); Regulation n.1111/2022 (2022); Notice n.6116/2023(2023); Regulation n.652/2022 (2022); Regulation n.723/2018 (2018).
Total and partial exemptionsIdentify the exemptions granted by different municipalities, outlining the main groups and the circumstances in which they are exempt from this tax.
Amount of the taxChecks the fees for each municipality, including application periods and seasonal variations for tourist activity.
The maximum amount to be chargedCalculates the maximum payable amount, considering the restrictions on the stay duration subject to the tourist tax.
Collection charges and administrative infractionsDetermine the tax assessment and collection methods and the fines that may be imposed for failure to comply with regulations.
Economic-financial justificationIdentify the economic and financial justifications for the adopted taxes; we can better understand the values that influenced the decision-making process. Additionally, we can determine which incentives and disincentives will most effectively achieve our goals.

The maximum amount of night to be charged_

MunicipalitiesMaximum amount to be charged
Braga4 Nights
Cascais7 Nights
Coimbra3 Nights
Faro7 Nights
Figueira da Foz7 Nights
Lisboa7 Nights
Mafra7 Nights
Óbidos5 Nights
Porto7 Nights
Póvoa de Varzim7 Nights
Santa Cruz7 Nights
Sintra3 Nights
Vila Nova de Gaia7 Nights
Vila Real de Santo António7 Nights

Tourist tax, incentives and benefits, and unit costs_

MunicipalityUnit cost per overnight stay/other (A)Incentives—low season (B)Incentives—high season (C)Tourist tax—low season (A)−(B)=(D)Tourist tax—high season (A)−(C)=(E)Annual tourist tax (F)
Braga€2.53NA€1.03NA€1.50NA
CascaisNINANANANA€2.00
Coimbra€1.95*/€1.84**NA€0.84NA€1.00NA
Faro€3.63NA€2.13NA€1.50NA
Figueira da Foz€5.62€4.12€3.62€1.50€2.00NA
Lisboa€3.72*/€3.21**€1.21NANA€2.00
Mafra€11.82€10.72€9.62€1.10€2.20NA
Óbidos€2.35€1.35NANA€1.00
Porto€2.52*/€1.99**NANANA€2.00
Póvoa de Varzim€2.43€0.93NANA€1.50
Santa CruzNINANANANA€2.00
Sintra€2.10NANANA€2.00
Vila Nova de Gaia€1.96€0.96NA€1.00€2.00NA
Vila Real de Santo António€1.06€0.06/€0.56***NANA€1.00/€0.50***

Age of taxpayers by municipality_

MunicipalitiesAge of taxpayers
Braga16
Cascais13
Coimbra16
Faro13
Figueira da Foz16
Lisboa13
Mafra12
Óbidos13
Porto13
Póvoa de Varzim16
Santa Cruz13
Sintra13
Vila Nova de Gaia16
Vila Real de Santo António10

Exemptions for medical treatment and respective companionship_

MunicipalityExemptions for medical treatmentCompanionship
Braga100%1 companionship
CascaisNot applicableNot applicable
Coimbra100%1 companionship
Faro100%1 companionship
Figueira da FozNot applicableNot applicable
Lisboa100%1 companionship
MafraNot applicableNot applicable
Óbidos100%Not applicable
Porto100%2 companionships
Póvoa de Varzim100%2 companionships
Santa CruzNot applicableNot applicable
Sintra100%1 companionship
Vila Nova de Gaia100%1 companionship
Vila Real de Santo AntónioNot applicableNot applicable

Exemptions for social/natural emergencies_

MunicipalitiesSocial/Natural emergencies
Braga100%
CascaisNot applicable
Coimbra100%
FaroNot applicable
Figueira da Foz100%
LisboaNot applicable
MafraNot applicable
ÓbidosNot applicable
Porto100%
Póvoa de Varzim100%
Santa CruzNot applicable
Sintra100%
Vila Nova de GaiaNot applicable
Vila Real de Santo AntónioNot applicable

Values and periods for municipal tourist taxes_

MunicipalityTourist tax—high seasonTourist tax—low seasonAnnual tourist tax
Braga€1.50*
Cascais€2.00
Coimbra€1.00*
Faro€1.50*
Figueira da Foz€2.00**€1.50***
Lisboa€2.00
Mafra€2.20****€1.10*****
Óbidos€1.00
Porto€2.00
Póvoa de Varzim€1.50
Santa Cruz€2.00
Sintra€2.00
Vila Nova de Gaia€2.00**€1.00***
Vila Real de Santo António€1.00/€0.50******

Municipal tourist tax regulations by inter-municipal communities/metropolitan area_

MunicipalitiesTourist tax regulationsIntermunicipal community/Metropolitan area
BragaBraga municipal tourist tax regulationCávado Intermunicipal Community
CascaisRegulations for the collection and scale of taxes, licences, and other municipal revenues—chapter iii—rules for the implementation of the tourist taxLisbon Metropolitan Area
CoimbraCoimbra municipal tourist tax regulationCoimbra Region Intermunicipal Community
FaroFaro municipal tourist tax regulationAlgarve Intermunicipal Community
Figueira da FozFigueira da Foz municipal tourist tax regulationCoimbra Region Intermunicipal Community
LisboaGeneral regulation of taxes, prices, and other revenues of the municipality of Lisbon—section vi—municipal tourist taxLisbon Metropolitan Area
MafraMafra municipal tourist tax regulationLisbon Metropolitan Area
ÓbidosÓbidos municipal tourist tax regulationOeste Intermunicipal Community
PortoPorto municipal tourist tax regulationPorto Metropolitan Area
Póvoa de VarzimMunicipal tourist tax regulationPorto Metropolitan Area
Santa CruzMunicipal ecotax regulationNot applicable
SintraRegulation of fees and other revenues of the municipality of Sintra—annexe iv implementing Regulation of the municipal tourist tax on overnight accommodationLisbon Metropolitan Area
Vila Nova de GaiaVila Nova de Gaia city tax regulationPorto Metropolitan Area
Vila Real de Santo AntónioRegulation of the tourist tax of the municipality of Vila Real de Santo AntónioAlgarve Intermunicipal Community

Exemptions for disabled people and respective companionship_

MunicipalityExemptions for disabled people ≥ 60%Companionship
Braga100%Not applicable
CascaisNot applicableNot applicable
Coimbra100%1 companionship
Faro100%Not applicable
Figueira da Foz100%Not applicable
LisboaNot applicableNot applicable
Mafra100%Not applicable
ÓbidosNot applicableNot applicable
Porto100%Not applicable
Póvoa de Varzim100%1 companionship
Santa CruzNot applicableNot applicable
SintraNot applicableNot applicable
Vila Nova de Gaia100%Not applicable
Vila Real de Santo AntónioNot applicableNot applicable
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ejthr-2024-0021 | Journal eISSN: 2182-4924 | Journal ISSN: 2182-4916
Language: English
Page range: 285 - 298
Submitted on: Feb 6, 2024
Accepted on: Oct 28, 2024
Published on: Dec 31, 2024
Published by: Polytechnic Institute of Leiria
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 2 issues per year

© 2024 Luís Carvalho, Eduardo Pinheiro, Márcio Martins, Cláudia S. Costa, published by Polytechnic Institute of Leiria
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.