Francisco de la Torre, mayor of Malaga, walked in their shoes as he proposed a tourist tax amounting to €2 to €3 on overnight stays in tourist accommodations such as hotels and holiday rentals. The Mayor wrote to the Spanish prime minister and ministers of tourism and urban development for this tax to have legal support for its imposition. The lightweight that burdens long-length opportunities in housing refers to short-term tourist rent problems.
As per De la Torre, adobe increase with a reception from limited places that fall under long-leased rents creates an undesirable situation only. The proposal is that this tax would help to address the negatives that tourists create for residents.
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This proposal presented the effect of short-term rent on the housing market in Malaga. They rent their homes mostly to tourists, which reduces the housing supply available to be rented long-term and pushes prices upwards. Income from tourist tax would help low-income families with housing needs and stimulate high-quality, sustainable tourism.
Another city in Portugal that is implementing such initiatives or actions for the same purpose is Porto. Porto city council recently decreed an increase of the overnight tourist tax from €2 to €3. Detractors of the changes fear that they would deter tourists from coming to the area. Still, proponents of the changes believe that the money will be used to better the quality of service in tourism and enhance the quality of life for residents.
Tourism taxes have been in different areas of Portugal like Algarve, Faro, and Lisbon. From one of these regions, you can visit and spend between €1 to €2, depending on the season, especially with the period from November to February costing less than the rest of the seasons.