Ourém extends public consultation on the municipal tourist occupancy tax

The Municipality of Ourém has extended the deadline for the public consultation on the draft “Municipal Tourist Occupancy Tax Regulation” by an additional 15 working days. The decision was made by a decree from the mayor, Luís Miguel Albuquerque, dated September 9, 2026, and is disclosed through Notice (extract) no. 22687-A/2026/2, published in the Diário da República, 2nd series, supplement, no. 178, of September 14, 2026.

The public consultation had been initially opened for a period of 30 days, with publication in the 2nd series of the Diário da República on August 3, 2026. With the extension, interested parties now have an additional two working weeks to submit contributions to the new regime that will apply to tourism activity in the municipality.

What is under consultation

The project in question establishes the Municipal Tourist Occupancy Tax Regulation, an instrument that will allow the municipality to charge a tax on overnight stays of visitors within the territory of Ourém. The document is available for consultation in two locations:

• At the Community Funds Support and Filing Division — Filing, Archive and Reprography Section, in the Municipality’s headquarters building;
• On the local authority’s website, at www.cm-ourem.pt.

How to submit suggestions

During the new deadline, interested parties may send their suggestions in writing to the Municipality of Ourém, addressed to Praça D. Maria II, n.º 1, 2490-499 Ourém, or via the email address geral@mail.cm-ourem.pt. Contributions must identify the subject as “suggestions for the proposed Municipal Tourist Occupancy Tax Regulation.”

The decree extending the deadline is subject to ratification by the local authority’s executive body, as stated in the published notice. The document was signed on September 10, 2026, by the mayor, Luís Miguel Albuquerque.

Impact for operators and visitors

The municipal tourist occupancy tax will directly affect hotel and local accommodation operators in the municipality, as well as visitors staying overnight in Ourém. The extension of the deadline gives associations, companies, and citizens more time to analyze the proposal and submit contributions before the final approval of the regulation.

The measure is part of a trend among several Portuguese municipalities to create their own revenues from tourism, intended to finance local infrastructure and services. Public participation at this stage is decisive for calibrating the tax amount and the conditions of application, in a municipality with a strong religious and tourist orientation, marked by the Sanctuary of Fátima.

Source: Diário da República, 2nd series, supplement, no. 178, September 14, 2026, Part H — Local Authorities (official reference: Notice (extract) no. 22687-A/2026/2).