Travellers heading to the beautiful Madeira archipelago in the second half of this year will face a new €2 tourist tax, announced by Portuguese authorities. This tax will apply to both foreign and domestic visitors, and is expected to generate around €10 million in revenue.
The President of the Association of Municipalities of the Autonomous Regions (AMRAM), Pedro Calado, revealed that the decision to implement this tax was reached during a meeting of local councils. The tax will amount to €2 per guest per night, with a maximum of seven nights, but exemptions will be made for children under 13 and adults with health or social security issues.
In order to facilitate the implementation of this tax, municipalities will need to establish a computerized system capable of integrating with various types of tourism units, including farms, short-term rental accommodations, and hotels. The revenue generated from this tax will be used by the municipal councils for environmental sustainability, tourism promotion, preservation of green spaces, and tourist use.
While the tax is expected to come into effect in the second half of this year, it is currently only applied in the municipality of Santa Cruz. Despite the new tax, Madeira’s popularity as a destination continues to grow, with the archipelago being named Europe’s Leading Destination in 2023 by the World Travel Awards. Additionally, the foreign population in Madeira reached a record high in October last year, with 11,793 foreigners recorded living in the region.
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