A barometer from the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation concluded that the majority of Portuguese people support a reduction in local accommodation (AL) and more controlled management of tourism, prioritising the well-being of residents, even if it implies a reduction in tourism revenue.

“[…] ALEP regrets that, as the economic importance of this sector is undeniable, perceptions about its impact on the housing problem continue to be based on simplistic narratives, so widespread in recent years,” it said in a statement.

While valuing the development of studies that assess the perception of tourism’s impacts, this association stated that it is crucial to pay attention to how these analyses are conducted.

In this sense, it exemplified that, according to the barometer in question, 52.3% of respondents agree with the need to reduce vacation rentals due to housing problems, even if this has a negative impact on employment.

The association emphasised that the question itself associates local accommodation (AL) with problems in the housing supply, inducing a negative response.

“Unfounded narratives”

For ALEP, this result reflects the effect of years of “unfounded narratives” that associate tourism with the housing crisis.

“If, in a survey, a question were asked that associated the thousands of hairdressers, clinics, and offices occupying housing units, or even the hundreds of hotels or tourist apartments that are being opened, with the housing crisis, inevitably public opinion would also concentrate the blame for this problem on these segments,” it stressed.

ALEP highlighted that the housing shortage is a result of the lack of public policies that address the sector’s structural blockages, such as the scarcity of new construction, delays in rehabilitation processes, and a lack of incentives for affordable rentals, while tourist accommodation continues to be the “scapegoat.”

On the other hand, it indicated that the numbers available in the National Registry of Local Accommodation Establishments do not reflect the reality of the sector, considering that in Lisbon alone, an estimated 7,000 registration cancellations have been made (40% of the total).

“In several cities, this sector has played a decisive role in the recovery of dilapidated properties and the revitalization of historical areas, despite its size being much smaller than what is commonly believed. All ALEP wants is for the future of housing and tourism policies not to be based on simplistic debates and to be grounded in up-to-date information, recognizing the contribution of local accommodation and framing it in a balanced way within the broader context of the country,” said ALEP president Eduardo Miranda, quoted in the same statement.

Impacts of tourism

According to the foundation’s analysis, more than 70% of those interviewed believe that the government should prioritise the well-being of residents, even if this implies a reduction in tourism revenue, and “the vast majority support reducing local accommodation to address the housing crisis.”

The study also identified a “widespread perception that tourism is also responsible for the general increase in the cost of living, the pressure on services, and urban congestion.”

The barometer was developed by Zélia Breda, Eduardo Brito-Henriques, and Paulo M. M. Rodrigues between April and July of this year, based on 1,072 face-to-face, telephone, and online interviews, and can be consulted on the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation website.