Tourism troubles in Lisbon: City's strategies to combat its adverse impacts
In a bid to address the challenges posed by tourism and commerce in the city, Lisbon has proposed a new Municipal Management Policy for Commerce and Tourism. The policy, approved by the assembly, includes 13 key recommendations aimed at mitigating negative impacts on housing, commercial activity, and mobility, with a focus on territorial differentiation by parish.
Sofia Vala Rocha (PSD) and Pedro Roque Domingues (PS) served as rapporteurs for the policy. One of the primary recommendations is to develop targeted policies for different city areas, concentrating on parishes most affected by tourism and real estate pressure, ensuring local needs guide management actions.
Another crucial recommendation is to cancel inactive local accommodation licenses (Alojamento Local) to provide a realistic assessment of the sector's size and its impact on the housing market. This move is expected to help maintain a balance in the city's housing landscape.
To optimize cultural resource management and improve the visitor experience, an integrated ticketing system for museums and monuments is proposed. This system will feature pre-defined visitor flows, aiming to control tourist flow and reduce overcrowding.
In addition, Lisbon has empowered itself to restrict new local accommodation licenses in areas deemed oversaturated, such as the historic downtown and 19 neighborhoods. These restrictions include designating containment areas, where no new licenses are allowed due to overload, and sustainable growth areas, which require special monitoring to avoid overcapacity.
To finance tourism infrastructure, cultural heritage preservation, and mitigate the environmental impact of tourism, a municipal tourist tax of four euros per night per visitor over age 13 has been implemented. This tax applies for up to a certain number of nights and additionally includes charges on arrivals by sea from cruise ships. The revenue from this tax supports local management costs associated with tourism growth.
Other proposals include organizing guided tours, promoting the heritage of Colina de Santana, and earmarking a percentage of new housing developments for affordable housing. Chega has also proposed the redevelopment and security of Quinta das Conchas and Lilases parks.
The debate on this policy was held in two sessions in January, and the report, including most recommendations, was unanimously approved. A thematic debate on Colina de Santana was held in March with two sessions.
Notably, the assembly also approved a motion and a recommendation from the Socialist Party to strengthen the Lisbon Municipal Police. The PSD recommended ending the proliferation of cat colonies in the city, and another Chega proposal is the implementation of the Detailed Plan for the Area Surrounding the Benfica Market.
In summary, Lisbon’s policy combines regulatory controls on local accommodation licensing, targeted territorial approaches, visitor flow management through integrated cultural ticketing, and financial instruments like the tourist tax to achieve sustainable commerce and tourism management in the city.
[1] [Source] [2] [Source] [3] [Source] [4] [Source]
- The new Municipal Management Policy for Commerce and Tourism in Lisbon, designed to address tourism and commerce challenges, includes a focus on real estate pressure in specific city areas, particularly parishes impacted the most, as a primary recommendation.
- To maintain a balance in the housing landscape and provide a realistic assessment of the local accommodation sector, the policy recommends canceling inactive accommodation licenses and implementing a municipal tourist tax.
- The proposed integrated ticketing system for museums and monuments aims to manage visitor flows, reduce overcrowding, and improve the visitor experience, which is another key aspect of Lisbon's tourism policy.
- In line with the policy, Lisbon has the power to restrict new local accommodation licenses in oversaturated areas, such as the historic downtown and 19 neighborhoods, and has proposed designating containment areas and sustainable growth areas to control tourism growth.
