en 
The action is being called through social networks and indicates the intention to hold a meeting on March 1st, at 3:00 pm, at the main entrance of Feira Internacional de Lisboa (FIL), where the start of the Bolsa de Turismo de Lisboa (BTL) event will be taking place.
Speaking to Lusa agency, Carla Reis, owner of local accommodation and the promoter of the protest, explained that the choice of date "was symbolic" and that she intends to draw the Government's attention to the negative consequences of the measures that are being proposed.
At issue is the Mais Habitação program, approved on Thursday by the Council of Ministers, which provides that the issuance of new local accommodation licenses will be “prohibited”, with the exception of rural accommodation in municipalities in the interior of the country, where they will be able to boost the local economy.
In addition, the current local accommodation licenses “will be subject to reassessment in 2030” and, thereafter, periodically, every five years.
Properties that remain in local accommodation will have to pay a special contribution, with the revenue being allocated to the IHRU (Institute for Housing and Urban Rehabilitation) to finance housing policies.
The end of local accommodation?
“These are proposals that predict the end of local accommodation. It's not even local accommodation as we know it. It really is the end of local accommodation. Therefore, the time has come when we stop believing that the State is a good person and we decide to go out for the first time”, justified Carla Reis.
The businesswoman said that local accommodation owners “are very hurt by the Prime Minister”.
“What we want [with the protest] is for them to see who we are, our faces. Contrary to the narrative of people who expel the elderly, of rich people, of people who live sitting down waiting for the income to arrive. We are all the opposite of that,” she pointed out.
In this sense, and acknowledging the existence of a problem with housing, Carla Reis considered that persisting in the “attack on local accommodation” will only serve to “put more families in misery”, which depend directly and indirectly on the sector.
“The problem is not just us. It's all the families that work around the local accommodation. The cleaners, the accountants, the photographers, the plumber,” she pointed out.
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Seems the people protesting want to rent to foreigners who can pay more, selling out the Portugues, whose country they are in.
By John Owens from Lisbon on 21 Feb 2023, 19:35
Well, we don't really need local accommodation now do we? We need local housing for locals. This will be grand, a bunch of rich people (if you own a house in Lisbon you're rich) shouting. Public opinion will pass it's judgment I'm sure. Lower the rents, stop pandering to foreigners and all would be well. But you be greedy wanting those sweet pounds and dollars...
By Sns from Lisbon on 21 Feb 2023, 21:49
Lmao, I'll play a very small violin and shed a very small tear for all the Portuguese property owners, LOL
By Fisher from Lisbon on 21 Feb 2023, 22:20
Well said. Money money money. But not for us Portuguses
By J. from Lisbon on 22 Feb 2023, 07:48
I think these new measures seem pretty reasonable really. There are already too many Airbnbs and the last thing we need is more. Houses should be for living in. Fair enough if you want to rent out a spare bedroom to a tourist, but our cities need housing stock for people to live in.
By Henry from Lisbon on 22 Feb 2023, 07:59
@John - Tourism accounts for a quarter of Portugal's GDP. Without an alternative growth strategy, reducing tourism will have a serious economic impact, which means fewer jobs and lower wages.
By Alex from Algarve on 22 Feb 2023, 09:30
If the Portuguese government of the cities of Portugal want to have affordable rents for their population then they should start building/renovating/maintaining properties and rent these to those that satisfy the required criteria (e.g. income limits). DO instead of TALKING about doing. Walking through Lisbon I can see a huge number of properties that are waiting to be renovated and I know that many of those are owned by the government.
By Tom from Lisbon on 22 Feb 2023, 10:19
I'm gonna play the small violin too for the poor properties owners
By Eduardo Troconis from Lisbon on 22 Feb 2023, 11:25
More intolerance from those who can't afford to buy, and are jealous of people who can, including the rich. If you own property, it should be up to you to decide how you're going to use it, either to live in it yourself, or rent it out short- or long-term. It's not for the govt to dictate to people how they should use their property. No-one has a birthright to be able to buy or rent property in a precise location. Jealousy of other people's success or wealth never gets you anywhere. Socialists are the last to be giving morality lessons on tolerance, as once again their actions are demonstrating their intolerance of others.
By Billy Bissett from Porto on 22 Feb 2023, 12:26
I just wanted to say, well said Billy Bissett! I agree 100% It is not up to the government to dictate.
By Adam from Other on 22 Feb 2023, 13:52
This is populist measure from Costa to appease the ladies of the BE. It is part of the program of "Portugal for the poor".
Foreigners bring wealth and that, apparently, is bad for the country.
By Peter Kirby Higgs from Lisbon on 22 Feb 2023, 15:53
In Lisbon there is so many airbnb it is crazy when portuguese have to live outside of the city. The gouvernment should start restoring all the old buildings (so many) and provide affordable housing for its population... Regarding hospitality In my opinion there is way too much hotel and short term rental in lisbon, so definitely the restriction should apply. For the rest the housing crises does not come only from airbnb investment but politics have to think and help its population....the taxes are really high and it is only now that they start thinking on something sorry but the fault is coming from way before 10 years ago.....
By juliette from Lisbon on 22 Feb 2023, 16:59
These proposals from the ladies of the BE are eminently sensible. Foreigners (tourists or residents) bring wealth. (see your article on where the Algarvians draw their income from - tourism). Wealth improves the well being of the population. Increases income. This would have terrible consequences for the Block de Esquerda who are already losing votes. So anything that can reduce foreign spending in Portugal makes eminent sense - for the BE.
By Peter from Lisbon on 22 Feb 2023, 17:03
It's funny to see the AirBnB owners talking about jobs they provide....are they also providing housing, because I'm sure the wages are low, and the workers probably have to spend money to commute to work in a community where they once lived....
And for those crying that it will affect the economy and the GDP and that Portugal relies on tourism....yes, and there are these cool buildings called hotels that were built for just that purpose.
I think the proposals are sensible and the landlords are exploitive. If landlords kept to buying one property that they rent out when they're not there, that's one thing...but most landlords buy and buy so they have two, three, four or more houses, and that's not counting corporations who get in on the deal. Good for Portugal.
By Natalie Gray from Other on 22 Feb 2023, 19:46
Please fact check your information before misleading people to bolster your side of this very serious inequity problem discussion. To be fair I read here TPN last month that GDP for Portugal from tourism was only 7% which yes, seemed low considering so I fact checked it with government statistics. Tourism AND all travel related services account for ABOUT 10% of Portugal's GDP. Lets hope there will be an amenable compromise for all displaced though.
By Wes from USA on 23 Feb 2023, 04:59
So much jealousy ... I am not surprised.
If the City of Lisbon or the Portuguese State as a whole want to do something then they should buy/renovate/build/manage properties that they can then rent at affordable prices to lower income people. Wouldn't that be the right way to go. I hear some officials in Lisbon are already thinking along those lines.
By Tom from Lisbon on 25 Feb 2023, 09:01