The Ourém City Council intends to charge, starting next year, a tourist tax of two euros per night in the hospitality sector of the municipality. The measure could generate revenues exceeding two million euros annually for the municipality.
The proposal is generating opposition, particularly in Fátima. The Sanctuary of Fátima expressed concerns that the tax may harm visits to the sanctuary, which is one of the country's main religious destinations.
Business owners in the hospitality sector also expressed concerns regarding the possible negative impacts of the measure on the region's tourism attractiveness.
The tax will only apply to the hospitality component of the municipality, which includes the Fátima area, one of the most visited destinations in Portugal, receiving millions of pilgrims and tourists every year.
