Speaking to Lusa, the mayor of Évora, Carlos Pinto de Sá (CDU), indicated that the tourist tax was approved at a council meeting, with the proposal now being discussed and voted on at the municipal assembly.

The rate “depends on the decision of the municipal assembly and publication in the Official Gazette of the Union (DR)”, but, if the measure is approved by the deliberative body of the municipality, its entry into force “will be possible in May or June”, he highlighted.

The creation of the tourist tax in this Alentejo municipality was approved by a majority in the chamber.

According to the mayor of the municipality, “slight changes” were made to the initial proposal, based on the public consultation and hearings held by the Municipal Economy and Tourism Commission.

One of the changes introduced to the regulation was the inclusion of Emergency and Civil Protection “in the areas where the revenue from the tourist tax could be applied”, said the Alentejo mayor.

Pinto de Sá admitted that the tourist tax could be discussed and voted on in an extraordinary meeting of the municipal assembly that has not yet been scheduled, but which could be scheduled for the end of this month.

“It is foreseen, according to the regulatory proposal, that it will come into force at the beginning of the second month after publication in DR”, so the entry into force “could probably be in May or June”, he added.

The proposal foresees charging 1.5 euros per guest per night in tourist establishments in the municipality, up to a maximum of three consecutive nights, with exemptions provided for people with disabilities, minors, students or athletes.

According to the mayor's estimates, Évora City Council could collect between “500,000 and 600,000 euros” per year from this tax.