"From the moment the court makes this decision (…) we have to allow these measures to be extended to all operators. No one would understand if operators who were less fortunate or who did not act against the city hall were left out of these measures", stated Rui Moreira.

At issue is the pilot project to restrict tourist vehicle traffic that began on October 1, 2024, limiting the circulation of tourist vehicles in the centre of Porto.

Only a tourist train and a double-decker hop-on, hop-off bus would be allowed to operate in a designated area in the centre, under municipal permits.

'Tuk-tuks' and occasional tourist buses were banned from operating.

However, the Porto TAF accepted the precautionary measure brought by 12 tour operators against the municipality, having determined the suspension of restrictions in the historic centre for these companies.

Rui Moreira told journalists that this was “the first unfavourable decision for the municipality”.

“We did not expect this outcome, especially because the decision has been contrary,” he pointed out, adding that the municipality will appeal, even if the appeal does not have suspensive effects.

“Despite the fact that the decision has its effects limited to the 12 plaintiff companies, we understand that this cannot mean the attribution of any monopoly in the city of Porto”, he pointed out, saying that “other measures” will be taken.

Even though the new measures have not been designed, the mayor gave as possible examples restricting circulation on certain streets, conditioning access on certain days of the week or times, and determining parking and passenger boarding/disembarking locations.

“We have to start from scratch, we have to do a ‘reset’. By doing a ‘reset’, we now need to listen to the municipal departments, the Municipal Police and think about how we can implement other measures that somehow mitigate this problem”, he added.

Regarding the pilot project, Rui Moreira stated that it allowed “a calming of traffic” and regretted that the court’s decision incites “chaos”.

In the TAF decision, the judge states that it is not possible “to conclude that there is a preponderant damage to the public interest that implies the refusal of the measure”.

The 12 companies filed a precautionary measure against the municipality to suspend the effectiveness of the bidding process for the granting of five operating licenses for tourist circuits and to guarantee the free circulation of tourist vehicles in the restricted zone.

The competition for the granting of five licenses to operate tourist circuits is also suspended, added Moreira.

Today, in statements to Lusa, the director of WildBloom, one of the 12 operators with vehicles with up to nine seats that filed the lawsuit, stated that, with this decision, the court “decides in favor” of the companies.

“We remain available to find a solution because we know there are traffic problems, but I think an apology [from the city hall] wouldn't be a bad idea," he added.

According to data from Porto City Council sent to Lusa, between September 19 and November 19, during the pilot project, 88 traffic fines were issued, six vehicles were removed, two were blocked and two were seized.

In question were 48 infractions for tourist entertainment vehicles with a capacity of less than nine seats, four for tourist trains, 20 for occasional heavy passenger vehicles, 12 for occasional light passenger vehicles and four for others.