Urgent travel warning for Brits as popular hotspot introduces ‘tourist tax’ that could add £50 to holiday
AN urgent travel warning has been issued for Brits after a popular hotspot introduced a “tourist tax” that could add £50 to your holiday.
Visitors to the sun-soaked destination will have to fork up €2 (£1.70) per night for up to a week between March and September.
This could add more than £50 to the overall cost of a one-week beach holiday for a family of four.
The fee will drop to €1 (85p) per person per night between October and February.
The tourist tax is being introduced in the city of Portimão on Portugal’s Algarve coast.
Portimão’s Mayor Isilda Gomes said the tourist tax could raise “a few million euros” for the city.
Gomes said: “The rates are extremely fair. The funds will boost the city’s tourism development.”
Children under the age of 13 are exempt from the charge, Gomes added.
Last year the Algarve was named the “best beach destination” in all of Europe – for the 10th time.
The region was named Europe’s “Leading Beach Destination” at the 2023 World Travel Awards (WTA).
Beating other popular destinations such as Majorca, Corfu and Sardinia, the Algarve has more than 100 beaches, with more than 88 Blue Flag beaches.
And new research from Love Holidays has revealed the destination to be the cheapest winter sun destination for Brits, with seven-night breaks from just £94pp.
Algarve Tourism president André Gomes said, following the win: “The Algarve has beaches to suit all tastes.
“From long, sandy beaches protected by golden cliffs to small bays nestled between rocks and the calm waters of the east coast beaches like Manta Rota and Altura, which are perfect for families.
“Meanwhile, the west coast beaches of Amado, Bordeira and Monte Clerigo have some of the most scenic and uncrowded in the country and are a go-to destination for surfers.”
To get to the Algarve, you can find flights from the UK to Faro which take around two hours, and start from just £14.99 with Ryanair.