Summary:
Restaurants in Lisbon charging different prices for locals and tourists
Lower prices for Portuguese customers, higher prices for foreign visitors
Serious illegality according to consumer rights lawyer Marcelino Abreu
Portugal welcomed 26.5 million tourists in 2023, a 19.2% increase from 2022
Lisbon's tourist tax to double from two to four euros starting September 1st
Different Prices for Locals and Tourists in Lisbon's Restaurants
In Lisbon, some restaurants are reportedly charging lower prices for Portuguese customers while imposing higher prices on foreign visitors. This practice has been highlighted in a recent cover story by the newspaper Expresso.
These establishments, primarily located in the historic center of the city, have created menus that feature a "tourist price" visible in multiple languages, while the local price is often communicated verbally or hidden in less visible menus.
Marcelino Abreu, a lawyer with expertise in consumer rights, condemns this as a serious illegality, stating that restaurants cannot discriminate based on nationality by charging different prices. The Associação da Hotelaria, Restauração e Similares de Portugal (AHRESP) mentioned that they were unaware of such practices but emphasized that prices should be uniform and transparently displayed.
In 2023, Portugal welcomed 26.5 million non-resident tourists, marking a 19.2% increase compared to 2022, and exceeding pre-pandemic figures from 2019. Furthermore, the Lisbon Municipal Assembly has approved an increase in the tourist tax, raising it from two to four euros per night, effective from September 1st.
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