Revenue will be invested in urban cleaning equipment, pavement repair, garden maintenance and mobility.

The regulation for the tourist tax in the municipality of Funchal was approved today in a council meeting. “The tourist tax will come into effect from October 1st,” announced the head of the executive, Cristina Pedra, adding that it corresponds to a value of “two euros, per day, for a maximum of seven days.” There will also be, as the mayor pointed out, “exemptions, namely for children up to 12 years old.”

The President of Funchal City Council (CMF) also announced that the Tourist Tax will only apply to cruises from January 2025. Regarding the use of the first revenues from the tourist tax – which, according to estimates, should yield “about one million and 600 thousand euros” by the end of this year – Cristina Pedra indicates that they will be used “both for investments (new equipment) and for maintenance works.” Highlighting that “Funchal is having a significant influx of tourists,” she specifies that “urban cleaning equipment will be purchased, worth 302 thousand euros.”

The profit from the tourist tax will also be used “for the repair of pavements (roads), in the amount of 550 thousand euros”; plus “336 thousand euros for the maintenance of gardens”, to which “228 thousand euros for cultural events” will be added, without forgetting mobility, to which “144 thousand euros” will be dedicated. There will also be a “two and a half percent contribution to the units where tourists are accommodated,” detailed the CMF president, quoted in a press release.