The Portuguese Hotel Association (AHP) considers that the deconfinement plan, which entered into force this Sunday, August 1st, is "an excellent step towards the beginning of the sector's normalization".
In a statement, AHP says the plan is good "especially since it is already defined for the medium term."
The association also applauds the extension of Support for Progressive Recovery (ARP) until the activity is normalized, which is still awaiting implementation.
However, hoteliers stress that they are awaiting an answer from the Government on a fundamental issue: the acceptance of vaccination certificates that are not from the European Union (EU).
"AHP has long stressed that it is essential to accept digital vaccination certificates from the USA, Canada, Israel and the Schengen Area, given the importance that these markets have for our country and the vaccination stage at which are found (at the moment only Switzerland and the United Kingdom have a recognized vaccination certificate)», says the association.
Raul Martins, president of AHP, says that "we know that this decision does not depend only on the Portuguese Government, since at European level the rule of reciprocity in recognition is enshrined".
«However, because this rule is being extremely harmful to us and delaying the economic recovery, it is up to Portugal to press on its side and even take a position to open the way and decide for itself. In fact, this is what several European countries are doing», he considers.
In parallel, AHP also reinforces that it has been waiting for more than 15 days for a Government decision regarding the stay of airline crews in hotels.
On this point, Raul Martins says that «this, yes, is a matter exclusively under the competence of the Portuguese Government. It is absurd that the crew who stay in hotel establishments have to be tested, contrary to what is foreseen in the matter of air transport, which exempts crews from complying with this obligation. This has led to great difficulties and stress in the hotels where they stay».
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