Ever since tram number 24 stopped running up one of Lisbon’s famous hills two decades ago, residents have been demanding its return. So when the renamed Tram Tour began service in May on a shortened route known for hilltop views of the city, it might have been cause to rejoice.
Instead, the tram has become just the latest symbol of tourists being attended to while locals are literally left behind. Lisbon has been the fastest-growing city destination in southern Europe for overnight guests since the global financial crisis amid an unprecedented surge in the nation’s $11.6 billion tourism sector.
