“No local accommodation license will be withdrawn from anyone. They will be suspended for new local accommodation only in high-density territories”, guaranteed António Costa Silva in the parliamentary committee on Economy, Public Works, Planning and Housing.
In low-density areas, which include 165 municipalities and around 70 parishes, the AL will continue to develop.
The Minister of Economy also highlighted that the municipalities will have a “more active role”, underlining that there has to be a balance between housing, local accommodation, industry and commerce.
"The discussion will continue and we will see if in the end we have a balanced package," he said.
Golden visas
With regard to the subject of 'golden visas', António Costa Silva noted that those that already exist and meet the requirements will continue.
He stated that the country is open to investment, namely foreign, thus emphasising that there must be mechanisms to attract that same investment.
Costa Silva recalled that the process of Residence Permit for Investment Activity (ARI) will end and that the authorisations, within the general regime, will continue.
“I think that at the end of this whole discussion, we will have a balanced and more consensual solution to allow the development of the entire economy”, he concluded.
Appalling the whole country has been prostituted in a characterless disneyland of hotel bedrooms.
As ever the special interests with their fingers in the tills have won
By James from Algarve on 05 Jul 2023, 13:06
James, may I ask what your plan for replacing 17% of GDP is? What do you do for a living?
By Alex from Algarve on 06 Jul 2023, 08:23
A sensible policy without destroying the existing economic underpinnings of various areas but also decelerating rising housing costs. Now the country needs to reform laws that require unanimous agreement among extended family members to sell old family property, which tie up vast amount of housing, driving up prices. It's not just the ALs.
By Xander from Algarve on 06 Jul 2023, 15:06
This will have no effect on the thousands of unlicensed and untaxed holiday lets
By Terence McDine from Algarve on 06 Jul 2023, 15:21
Alex, it should never have reached the point where the economy relies so much on tourism. It was/is the chase for easy money that drives this cycle. Tourism and taxes are easy. Developing sustainable and well paying jobs takes work and imagination. BTW where does all the tourism revenue go? Why are all the public service sectors continually on strike? I don’t think you can call the average Portuguese greedy!
By Stuart Wood from Algarve on 07 Jul 2023, 09:01