In a statement, the association says that its disagreement also has to do "with the lack of information about the allocation of the funds obtained and the lack of participation from the hotel industry in the governance of the funds".

At the same time, it says that it raised questions "about the charging of guests" at the time of check-in and about what it calls "lack of respect for the negotiations with the operators", before the entry into force of that increase in value for guests.

The AHP regrets that its observations made during the public hearing phase were not "even considered" by the municipality, and the regulation was published and entered into force "without safeguarding any of those situations".

At the same time, it emphasises, "the complete lack of preparation of the model and of response to the hoteliers' doubts" was noted during the clarification sessions promoted by the local authority about the regulation and the operations for collecting and delivering the tax.

On Tuesday, in a meeting with the Albufeira City Council, the AHP once again "stressed the need for greater transparency in the process of allocating the taxes, with the participation of hoteliers in the management model", it noted.

Thus, it proposed that hoteliers be integrated "into an investment committee, simplification of the collection process and respect for accommodation contracts already closed".

In response, it says, "it heard from the City Council the commitment that the payment system that is being considered [...] will run alongside the instruments that are in force in all other municipalities: payment at the time of invoicing by the hotels and then delivered by them to the local authority".

"Regarding reservations already made up to the entry into force of this regulation (2 May), the tax is not applied", the note reads.

The Portuguese Hotel Association also said that it is "waiting to see how the hotels are compensated for the costs of collecting and delivering the tax to the municipality", recalling that "in other cases a 'fee' [tax] of 2.5% on the value of the taxes is due".

At the same time, it says that it is still waiting for the governance model that "guarantees the participation and involvement of the hotels in the destination of the proceeds of the taxes, in investments that really benefit the city and tourism", concludes the AHP.

The Albufeira City Council plans to start charging, from Tuesday, a tourist tax of two euros for overnight stays in the municipality during the high season, in tourist developments, local accommodation establishments, campsites and caravan parks, regardless of the type of booking (in person, analogue, or via digital).

The regulation that defines the conditions for the applicability of the tax was published on 30 April in the Official Gazette, and indicated 2 May for its entry into force.

Albufeira is considered the "capital municipality of tourism" in the Algarve, with over 150 hotel units and over 9,000 local accommodation units.

According to the regulation, the tax has a value of two euros between 1 April and 31 October and will be charged for up to a maximum of seven consecutive nights to all guests aged 13 or over.

With the entry into force of the collection of the tourist tax, Albufeira has joined the group of municipalities in the Algarve that receive an amount for overnight stays by tourists in the municipality, together with Portimão, Lagoa, Vila Real de Santo António, Faro and Olhão.

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