The increase refers only to previously unpaid routes, such as the Algarve’s A22 or Via do Infante for which the government announced a 15 percent toll reduction in the summer.
Overall, the state collected 36.2 million euros in toll revenue in the first three months since the discounts were announced.
The government decided to implement the reductions in order to increase mobility in economically disadvantaged areas across the country.
The Algarve, while wealthier than most regions in Portugal, was grouped with poorer regions due to its importance as the country’s primary tourist destination, while the EN125 road is not deemed as a viable alternative to the A22 motorway.
The increase in the Algarve, which saw traffic on the A22 motorway rise by 11.7 percent, is being explained not only by a stronger year in terms of tourism, but also by the prolonged roadworks on the secondary EN125 road.
“The discount is residual and was not the reason for the increase in revenue”, reasoned Via do Infante Road Users’ president João Vasconcelos.
Meanwhile, in comments to Jornal de Notícias, Algarve Tourism Chairman Desidério Silva also attributed the increase in traffic on the A22 motorway to the extensive work on the EN125.
He was also concerned by the dismay being expressed across the border by many of the region’s potential tourists.
“When I go to Spain, they don’t argue about the amounts they have to pay to use the A22 motorway, instead they complain about the method used for payment and the lengthy queues formed at the international bridge crossing”, Desidério Silva said, adding: “For this reason, many say they would rather not face the inconvenience.”
The Tourism chief has called for tolls to be suspended during the summer and religious holidays, which are when Spanish tourists usually head across the Guadiana River in large numbers.
Tolls were reduced by 15 percent on 1 August, though prior to the announcement, expectations were that discounts could be around 50 percent.
Following the news, associations set up to promote the interests of motorists, have all ridiculed the discount, arguing it will make little difference to reducing traffic on congested secondary routes and that it was more a token gesture than one of any particular value.
A study commissioned last year and which was handed to the government in the spring, suggested that reducing tolls would actually generate revenue, with estimates pointing to a figure of 22 million euros.
The Socialist government had at the time explained that this study formed an integral part of their decision to lower tolls this summer.
One of the biggest potential earners for the state in reducing tolls would be the Algarve’s A22 motorway, researchers revealed.
A cut of a mere 15 percent in tolls would see revenue climb by seven million euros, the study found.
Researchers added that even if reductions were to go up to 35 percent, the state would still collect more money from tolls than if it were to keep prices unchanged.