The Portuguese Competition Authority (AdC) has issued a final condemnatory decision against the Association of Tourist Information Guides of the Azores (AGITA) for violating competition rules by fixing minimum prices for tourist guide services across the archipelago. Following an investigation that began in 2024, the AdC determined that AGITA had been recommending a mandatory fee schedule to its members via email since November 2020. This practice, designed to establish minimum pricing floors, continued without interruption until the Authority’s final decision, significantly restricting competition within the regional tourism market.
AGITA is currently the only professional association in the sector within the Autonomous Region of the Azores. As of December 2025, it represented 57 active members, accounting for approximately 43% of the tourist guides operating in the region. The AdC found that by interfering with the commercial autonomy of these professionals, the association harmed the regional economy by preventing tourists and travel agencies from benefiting from competitive rates. Furthermore, price floors discouraged individual guides from innovating or offering more efficient service models. This practice breached both Portuguese Competition Law and Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which prohibits horizontal agreements that restrict market freedom.
The case originated from a formal complaint received by the AdC in February 2024. After identifying evidence of an infringement, the Authority initiated administrative offense proceedings in June 2024. The investigation included extensive inquiries, information requests, and evidentiary procedures. In April 2025, the AdC issued a Statement of Illegality, and AGITA was granted the right to a full defense, including oral hearings, before the final decision was reached.
The AdC imposed a fine of €8,200 on AGITA. In determining this amount, the Authority considered the gravity and duration of the infringement, the association’s degree of participation, and its overall economic situation. Under Portuguese law, fines for business associations are capped at 10% of the previous year’s turnover. The Authority emphasized that while business associations provide vital support to their members, they must never dictate commercial conditions or pricing. To assist organizations in maintaining compliance, the AdC provides a dedicated Guide for Business Associations on its official website. This enforcement action is part of a broader strategy to increase the Authority’s presence and detection of restrictive practices at the regional level throughout Portugal.