News from afpop

Good afternoon to you all and welcome to this week’s Briefing and I want to start by thanking those of you who began following our social media sites after I mentioned them in the previous NfA (News from afpop). Welcome to you all and please remember that you can always find us on social media HERE (Facebook) and HERE (Instagram).

After quite some time without an event organiser for the Portimão/Monchique area, it was very pleasant to meet 30 or so Members in the Portimão coffee morning that was hosted by Paloma earlier this month, even more so because it was pretty dreadful weather and people still turned out to support Paloma’s first event. Thank you to all of you that were able to attend, you were a very lively and happy group and I know that Paloma was thrilled by your support. I hope that the coffee morning for our new Loulé AEOs, Phil and Victoria, which is set for Friday 28^th will be equally well attended and we look forward to seeing you there.

Following our announcement in the previous NfA about the English language seminar on Alojamento Local in Faro, there are two items of note that we think Members might be interested in, which are the new Save Water Stamp that has been extended from the hotel sector and also the Civil Liability insurance register, which is due to be launched at the end of February or beginning of March. More information on those below for people in the AL industry.

Finally for this week, with a warning for those of you who might like to parade around the streets in your bikinis in the summer, here is this week’s information:

1. Alojamento Local (AL) update

We advised members in the last Briefing of the English language seminar on Alojamento Local, presented by ALEP and hosted by the RTA in Faro, It was good to see some afpop Members in the audience and we hope that you found it interesting. There is an intention to host more presentations in English by ALEP and we will provide information on them as they are announced.

A couple of things that came from the seminar was confirmation of the Civil Liability Insurance platform for registration of AL operators to record their insurance, which will become operational in the next few weeks and also the roll-out of the “Save Water Stamp” that was initiated for the hotel sector last year and which is now available to AL establishments in the Algarve. More information on the Save Water Stamp can be found HERE 

2. Portugália strike

The union of Portuguese airline pilots, SIPLA, is planning a partial strike for Portugália Airline pilots (TAP's low-cost branch) from 12th to 27th of March. Portugália flies from the three main Portuguese airports and also Madeira and the Açores.

Please check with TAP if you have booked a flight in this period.

3. Albufeira bikini ban

The municipality of Albufeira (Algarve) intends to prohibit "partial nudity" on public roads, having already approved the “Municipality's Code of Behaviour”, which is under public consultation until the 14^th of March.

The intention of the city council is to prohibit the use of "bikini, trikini, bathing suit and the like, swimming trunks and underwear" on public roads, terraces and establishments overlooking the street, and the fine starts at 300 euros – and can reach 1,500 euros. The exception is the beaches, their car parks and hotels.

The prohibitions put forward by the municipality also include the consumption of alcoholic beverages on the street, nudity or display of sexual organs - where fines vary between 500 and 1,800 euros. Noise in residential areas and abandoning supermarket carts on the street will also be penalised. 

4. Lisbon to ban tuk-tuks in the centre

While the tuk-tuk vehicles are popular among tourists around the world for their convenience and novelty, residents and local authorities in Lisbon have increasingly criticised their impact on congestion and public spaces. The city council is preparing a broader regulatory framework for tuk-tuk operations, which will be discussed in a council meeting in March. 

If approved the new traffic rules will come into effect on the 1^st of April, especially in the historic centre where tuk-tuks will no longer be allowed to circulate.

Tuk-tuk trips will continue to exist but will be limited to certain streets. As soon as we have more detailed information, we’ll inform Members.

5. e-Fatura communication deadlines - reminder

Hopefully you will have made several visits to the e-Fatura platform to validate expenses registered in 2024. If you haven't done so, please bear in mind that the deadline is until the 25th of February. Tax invoices for 2024 that are not validated/confirmed by the taxpayer will not be considered by the Tax Authority and this will have an impact on your IRS declaration.

Currently, the categories/sectors included in the e-Fatura where taxpayers can deduct expenses are: General family expenses (others as supermarket, fuel expenses, etc) Health, Education, Housing (Real Estate), Care Homes, Car Repair, Motorcycle Repair, Catering and Accommodation, Hairdressers and Beauty Institutes, Veterinary Activities, Collective public transport (monthly passes or tickets), Gyms, Newspapers and Magazines and Domestic work.

The process is simple, and you only need to allocate the expense to the category correspondent (if it has not already been allocated automatically by the portal). 

Do not be concerned if you don't find in the system the charges reimbursed by insurers, user fees or health insurance premiums by the validation deadline. These expenses are directly accounted for by the Tax Authority and will be available for consultation in the e-Fatura only between 15th – 31st of March.

6. Flight connection Bragança - Portimão

The operator Sevenair announced that the Bragança-Vila Real-Viseu-Cascais-Portimão flight connection has resumed on the 19^th of February, after a 4-month suspension. As a result of the concession contract, which is valid for four years, Sevenair will resume daily flights from Monday to Saturday until March, doubling the frequency between April and October.

7. Parishes will not be reinstated

We informed you in our NfA of the 24^th of January that the parliament approved the reinstatement of 302 parishes (Junta de Freguesia). However, the proposal was subsequently not approved by the President of the Republic, who has raised doubts about the transparency of the process and the ability to apply the new map. He feels there is not enough time to implement it, nor does he think it is appropriate in an election year. The President has sent the proposed legislation back to parliament for clarification and further discussion. Parliament will re-examine the President of the Republic's veto on the disaggregation of parishes on the 5^th of March. 

8. MOVE.Tavira

The 17th edition of MOVE.Tavira, a solidarity initiative organised by the Associação Oncológica do Algarve (AOA) in partnership with the Municipality of Tavira, the Union of Parishes of Tavira and Taviraverde, will start at Praça da República, in Tavira, on the 16^th of March.

With accessible routes of 5 and 9 kilometres, the event is part of the Algarve Walking and Running Calendar of the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth and aims to raise awareness of the importance of cancer prevention, especially breast cancer and to promote healthy lifestyles through sport and a balanced diet and, at the same time, raise funds to support cancer patients and their families. You can register HERE. 

9. AFPOP Presents… 

Lisbon Area - We would like to remind Members that there are still a few places left for our information session in Cascais on the subject of Mental Health - "Spotting the Signs, Dispelling the Myths", in conjunction with the Alzheimer Portugal Association. The presentation will take place in Cascais on the 4th of April, in the morning time. If you live in the Lisbon area or surroundings and have not yet booked your place, there is still time to do so.

Please note that this is open to anyone who is interested and not only afpop Members. There is a ten euro charge for non-members, which will be donated the Alzheimer’s Portugal.

Places can be reserved by contacting Marisa on apoio@afpop.com Please see the article in the February edition of UPDATE, which will be with Members around the 25^th of February.

Algarve Area - We are pleased to inform Members that the AFPOP Presents programme has a new health-related theme, this time focused on women's health - Breast Wellness. This topic it will be presented twice in the Algarve area. The first one it will be held in Lagos on the 9th of May and the second one in Tavira on 9th of June (both in the morning time) in conjunction with Associação Oncológica do Algarve. For those interested, please register via email: apoio@afpop.com 

10. Carnaval 4th of March

A reminder that the afpop office will be closed on Tuesday the 4th of March due to the Carnival celebrations. Whilst Carnival is no longer included in the government public holidays, the government does allow public and state offices to close for the celebration, which also includes schools. In order for the team to enjoy the day with their children, the office will be closed and reopen on Wednesday 5^th of March.

11. Satellite Offices 

If you need advice or assistance, wish to introduce a new Member to the Association, need to renew your subscription or just have a general query, please pass by and see us. We ask you to make an appointment and to inform us about your enquiry, so staff can come prepared to assist you. Please contact the afpop office to make an appointment on 282 458 509 or info@afpop.com.   

The next dates of the Satellites are:

• Almancil - Tuesday 25^th of February between 10h00 and 12h30 (premises of MEDAL Seguros)

• Lagos - Wednesday 26^th of February between 10h00 and 12h30 (premises of MediLagos on R. José Ferreira Canelas, which is behind the Câmara building)