The president of Algarve Tourism Desidério Silva defended this Monday that it is "urgent to review the entire toll system, under penalty of losing market share in the Spanish market, increasing unemployment and ruining the region's economy."
“For Easter, as well as on the weekend from Friday to Sunday, tolls should be suspended due to demand from our Spanish neighbors. That way the economy of the region and the country would win», he appealed.
In a press release sent to the newsrooms, the head of the Regional Tourism Authority of the Algarve (ERTA) considered that the region “does not need barriers that prevent tourists from across the border from visiting, staying overnight, eating and boosting the region's economy ».
«Algarvian tourism relies heavily on the Spanish market, where the destination carries out large promotional actions, and is systematically confronted with huge queues at the border along the international bridge over the Guadiana river and payment methods that make some people go back and others not even enter the region,” he said.
A reaction by Desidério Silva to the moments of authentic chaos that took place next to the Guadiana International Bridge during Holy Week. There were times when hundreds of Spanish tourists would have joined the ticket purchase machines on the A22.
«The Algarve and its economy can no longer continue to be penalized at important times for tourist activity, such as these Easter days», considered Desidério Silva.
For the president of ERTA, to get out of the crisis, the Algarve needs «more tourists, more overnight stays and higher income». "In a fragile economy such as the Algarve's, measures to relaunch tourist activity and not of greater constraint must be ensured," he added.
Tolls are not the only concern of Desidério Silva, who also draws attention to "the great difference in VAT charged both in restaurants and in national golf, compared to Spain". "These reasons are more than enough to take measures to support the destination that generates more tourist income in Portugal", he considered.
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