The collection of a municipal tax on overnight stays is a matter that “will be just an idea” and a process that at this moment will be “empty”. The president of the Regional Tourism Authority of the Algarve (ERTA) Desidério Silva considered this Monday that the measure has already caused damage, even if it is just an idea and that the possibility of its advance should be ruled out.
The new responsible for Tourism in the Algarve considered that «the region did not gain anything from this thinking that was placed on the table at AMAL», in a Press Conference that served to take stock of the first month as president of the entity and announce the elaboration of a document to be sent to the Government, with proposals to improve tourism in the Algarve.
Although he does not welcome the figure of a municipal tax on tourism, Desidério Silva defended that tourist municipalities should «be compensated for public utility interventions» they carry out.
The mayor of Albufeira, until recently, gives the example of this municipality, which goes from «41 to 400» residents during the high season, for whom it is necessary to build infrastructure.
In other words, instead of counting only the permanent inhabitants, the New Local Finance Law should contemplate the floating population in the financing of the municipalities, which in the case of Albufeira determines that the monthly average of inhabitants reach «150 thousand people».
A subject that will be part of the Tourist Memorandum that is being developed, with contributions from several regional partners, namely local authorities and associations in the tourism sector. A document that has not yet been completed, but which has points that Desidério Silva has no difficulty mentioning in his head.
"They start by realizing the importance of the region, reducing seasonality and increasing employment levels," he said. There will also be no lack of references to other issues, such as VAT on restaurants and golf, whose rates Desidério Silva considers “should be corrected”.
The document turns out to be the corollary of one of Desidério Silva's main banners in his candidacy for the presidency of ERTA: the union of the Algarve's living forces in favor of the region.
ERTA has already met with 16 Algarve chambers at the same time, something it intends to continue doing once a month. "The next meeting will be on the 10th [December]," he announced.
Contributions from the sector's business associations have also been requested. "There is a desire for more unity when action is needed," he assured.
“One thing is clear: there has to be a voice that speaks for the region, which doesn't necessarily have to be mine. It's not worth it each one is shooting in different directions», he considered.
New law on regional tourism entities does not satisfy
The Government has already approved in the Council of Ministers the new Law on Regional Tourism Entities, which, admitted Desidério Silva, “takes some power away” from these structures. There are also issues related to the financing of ERTs that Turismo do Algarve would like to see changed.
«We will try, during the discussion of the Law [in the Assembly of the Republic], to introduce some changes. The issue of local accommodation is missing and is detrimental to the Algarve. It is important that it is accounted for in the transfer of funds», he defended.
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