The president of the Portuguese Tourism Confederation (CTP) considers that the measures announced are appropriate for the current Covid-19 pandemic situation, but asks for the support to be operationalized quickly so that it can reach the economy quickly.
“I think that, at this moment, these measures are enough, in the sense that the Government has always said that this is a dynamic and open model. Last week, we were announcing 200 million [of support] and another 60 million for micro-enterprises. At the moment, we have a 1,7 billion package for tourism. No doubt it's dynamic and open. We are living through a completely exceptional period that requires a great sense of responsibility”, said Francisco Calheiros to Lusa.
The Government announced today a set of credit lines to support the treasury of companies in the total amount of 3.000 million euros, aimed at the sectors most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Of these, CTP highlights the creation of lines of credit to companies in the total amount of 3.000 million euros, of which 600 million are for restaurants, 200 million for travel agencies and event organization companies and 900 million for other travel companies. tourism, such as accommodation, as well as the support of 6.200 million in fiscal and contributory measures, which include postponements and deferrals of tax obligations.
“What we have to do – and this is what we have been working on now with the Government [the measures need to follow several steps], what we are asking is for this support to be operationalized as quickly as possible to reach the as quickly as possible to the economy”, said Francisco Calheiros.
Urgency needed for these measures, as well as for the adjustments required by economic agents in tourism to the previous credit line of 200 million euros.
Francisco Calheiros recalled that the tourism sector has been “working very closely, since March 02nd”, with all parts of the economy, namely with the Minister of Economy, with the Secretary of State for Tourism and with Tourism from Portugal.
This is because, “and it is the Government itself that says so”, “tourism was the first activity to enter a big and deep crisis, soon with big cancellations”, added the president of the CTP.
The official recalled that, "from the beginning", CTP defined "a line with three major concerns, which meets the Government, in parallel": the maintenance of jobs, the viability of the companies and the measures to the recovery of companies. Measures that have just “now been announced,” he said.
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