A picturesque European city is forcing visitors to spend extra money after the introduction of a 'tourist tax'.
Viana do Castelo is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world by tourism leaders. Northern Portugal.
Easily accessible from Porto and popular with visitors from Spainis most famous for the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
But according to Portuguese media, people over 16 who want to go there will face a new levy up to €7.50 (£6.39) per stay.
Resorts charge €1.50 per person per night during high season and €1 during low season.
According to bosses, the decision was made in response to the highest number of layoffs ever in the city. tourists.
The proceeds will be used to limit the impact of the large numbers of people coming to the region.
“We have record tourism and that brings new challenges, especially when it comes to the cleanliness of the city,” said local mayor Luís Nobre.
“Anyone who comes to the city and finds it clean and well-maintained must do their bit to help us maintain this excellence.”
The tax applies to overnight stays “in any type of accommodation in tourist resorts and local accommodation establishments located in the municipality,” the documents said.
A maximum rate of five consecutive nights applies per stay, bringing the total amount to €7.50.
Exempted from the tax are, among others, guests invited by the Council, people visiting for health reasons, people with disabilities and people displaced by conflict and temporarily residing in Portugal.
Tourists who can prove that they made a booking before the tax was introduced are also exempt.
Viana do Castelo is the latest region in Portugal to introduce a tourist tax. Earlier this month we reported on the The municipality of Oeiras, near Lisbon, had introduced new taxes.
This happened after angry residents of European cities expressed their dissatisfaction with tourism and demanded action.
They include angry locals in Barcelona who chanted “tourists, go home” and sprayed holidaymakers with water during a bizarre protest.