Up until 2019 overnight stays in the municipality “had been growing sharply,” and between 2014 and 2019, the county recorded “the second largest growth in RAM (67%).”
As for 2022, overnight stays in Câmara de Lobos grew 181%, “almost double the regional average (92.9%),” the mayor said.
“Until June of this year, overnight stays in Câmara de Lobos grew 27.2%, above the regional average. It should be noted that in 2012, Câmara de Lobos was the 8th municipality with the most overnight stays,” he said, noting that this year, until June, the municipality is the 6th and very close to the 5th place with 121,258 overnight stays recorded.
“These figures, related to tourism, with reflections on employment and the local economy, require the Municipal Administration to have greater responsibilities and challenges,” he acknowledged. Therefore, it is necessary to implement an overnight tourist tax.
“Because, this exponential growth, requires on our part, the careful requalification of the public space, with a strong tourist vocation; requires a greater commitment to artistic and cultural dynamisation, including the dynamisation of museum spaces, such as the construction of the Museum of Fishing and Fisherman, a work already contracted and started, and the evident overload with urban services such as security, surveillance, cleaning and maintenance of green spaces requires the application of a fee that has underlying the provision of a better service.”
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
