Lisbon to begin cruise ship tax in 2024
Cruise lines will be responsible for paying the tax to the city
The Port of Lisbon Authority has announced that it will be imposing a €2 tourist tax for each cruise passenger payable as of January 2024.
The cruise lines will be responsible for disbursing the payment via the Janela Única Logística platform.
The Port Authority said that it is still organising the procedure for tax payments with Lisbon City Council, but it forecasts annual cruise tax revenue of about €1.2 million.
The city’s mayor, Carlos Moedas, recently criticised cruise lines’ opposition to the tax: “It is truly shameful that there is such great resistance on the part of operators to pay this tourist tax,” he said to a meeting of the Lisbon Municipal Assembly.
He also added that if the cruise companies keep criticising the plan, he will impose restrictions. “As of January, I have already announced that if they don’t do it, I will make entry somewhat difficult,” Moedas said. “I can hinder the mobility of the buses [from the port] and I will do so if they don’t pay.”