“All municipalities in São Miguel [Ponta Delgada, Ribeira Grande, Lagoa, Vila Franca do Campo, Povoação and Nordeste], in this first phase, were concerned with approving the respective regulations, which have already been submitted to (…) municipal assemblies, with entry into force scheduled for January 1, 2025”, explained Alexandre Gaudêncio, during a hearing at the Economic Commission of the Regional Assembly, in Ponta Delgada.

The social-democratic mayor justified the creation of this municipal tourist tax, which will be worth two euros per night (up to a maximum of three nights), with the pressure that the tourist sector has experienced in the archipelago and the burden that this represents for municipalities in terms of cleaning and maintaining tourist trails.

“The municipalities that have, for example, to maintain trails, green areas, waste collection, are feeling increasing pressure, and we think it makes no sense to penalise, in this specific case, the residents. Being a tourist tax, it should be charged to those who visit us and never to those who live here”, said the president of AMRAA.

Alexandre Gaudêncio predicts that the six municipalities of São Miguel can raise around €10 million with the new municipal tourist tax, in 2025 alone.

The PAN's sole deputy, Pedro Neves, had already announced, in a press conference, that he would propose the creation of a regional tourist tax, to be applied to all islands in the region, worth three euros per day.

“The implementation of a regional tourist tax in the Azores, as a strategic measure, aims at sustainability and preservation of the island ecosystem, and is essential in reducing the harmful impacts of growing tourist pressure, promoting a more balanced and sustainable tourist flow”.

Faced with the possibility of tourists visiting the region paying two tourist taxes (one municipal and one regional), Alexandre Gaudêncio responded that “that doesn't make sense” and insisted that it should be the city halls, and not the Government, that charge the tourist tax.

“From the beginning, the association of municipalities has always been against a regional tax. We have been consistent with our position from the beginning. If you tell me that there can be two tourist taxes, honestly, I think it is not positive, because (…) it should be the municipalities that apply the tourist tax”, he highlighted.

In April 2022, a tourist tax was approved in the Regional Legislative Assembly, proposed by the PAN, but the measure ended up being revoked eight months later, by the parliamentary majority, with arguments such as the possible “unconstitutionality” of the measure or the “bureaucracy” necessary for its implementation.

The municipal tourist tax foreseen for the municipalities of the island of São Miguel will be charged by the accommodation in which the tourist is staying (hotel unit, local accommodation or rural tourism), for a maximum of three consecutive nights and does not apply to residents in the Azores, nor to anyone who is displaced for health reasons.