The municipal council of Albufeira has deactivated its Tourist Tax Management Platform with immediate effect as it prepares to migrate to a new digital system.
The move was announced on Tuesday (February 24) by Albufeira mayor Rui Cristina, who said the change is needed to adapt the service to current operational demands and improve interaction with tourism operators.
According to the municipality, the transition aims to improve efficiency, simplify procedures and strengthen system reliability.
Despite the shutdown of the existing platform, the tourist tax remains in force. The current charging period begins on April 1 and, under existing rules, the tax must be paid at check-in.
The council also confirmed it will begin an administrative review of the Municipal Tourist Tax Regulation, with the aim of updating it to reflect “operational realities and developments in the tourism sector.”
During the transition period, the municipality says it will issue guidance on how operators should comply with their obligations, as well as details on when the new platform will go live.
For now, the dedicated email address — taxa.turistica@cm-albufeira.pt — remains active for questions, information requests and the settlement of outstanding payments.
Under the regulation currently in force in Albufeira, a fee of €2 per night is charged between April 1 and October 31. The revenue collected by the municipality is used to cover expenses and investments linked to tourism activity, including environmental sustainability, promotion, preservation of historical heritage, cultural events, beach cleaning and the maintenance of public facilities.
The tourist tax applies to guests staying in tourist developments, local accommodation establishments, campsites and caravan parks.
Tourism operators are responsible for collecting the tax and transferring it to the municipality. Failure to comply may result in fines ranging from €500 to €10,000 for individuals and from €1,000 to €20,000 for companies, in accordance with municipal regulations.
