After being submitted to public consultation for a period of 30 days, the chamber's proposal, under the leadership of PSD/CDS, remains unchanged regarding the idea of ​​increasing the value of the tourist overnight tax, going from two to four euros, per guest and per night.

The document also includes the update of the tourist tax for arrival by sea, from one to two euros, per passenger, although the value that is now proposed to be updated is the one that began to be applied this year, with the beginning of the collection of this tax to cruise passengers.

According to the proposal, the council intends “for the Municipal Tourist Overnight Tax to come into force from September 1st and the Municipal Tourist Tax for Arrival by Sea on the day following the publication of the amendment to the Regulation in the Official Gazette”.

At the plenary meeting of the assembly, the PCP highlighted that the amount collected by the municipality from the tourist tax, since its creation in 2016, has not been used to mitigate the most negative impacts of tourism in the city.

Chega considered the increase in the fee to be “unreasonable”, believing that it would be “bad for the city’s economy”, including for those who invested in local accommodation.

The Liberal Initiative (IL), which abstained, pointed out the lack of analytical accounting for the allocation of tourism costs and questioned the application of the funds collected from this tax.

Defending that “the focus on tourism must be accompanied by an integrated strategy that promotes social balance, sustainability and guaranteed access to housing”, the PS expressed support for increasing the value of the tourist tax, remembering that in the past the PSD voted against this measure and criticised the socialists for implementing “fees and more fees”.

“The externalities of tourism must be combated and the quality of life of Lisbon residents restored”, stated the PS, demanding a plan on the use of revenue from this tax, which includes the reinforcement of urban hygiene and public transport on Carris, as well as the inspection of local accommodation and nightlife establishments, criticising the “inaction of the council” in this area.