Brussels hopes tourism will help Portugal recover “gradually”

“With regards to tourism in Portugal, we can see that already [setor] It is gradually starting to reopen and tourists are starting to arrive again, so it is expected that it will also contribute to the recovery of the Portuguese economy, said Valdes Dombrowskis, Executive Vice President of the European Commission.

Speaking to reporters at the Centro Cultural de Belém, in Lisbon, at the end of an informal meeting of European finance ministers (Ecofin) at a time when Portugal is holding the presidency of the Council of the European Union, the official noted that “the tourism sector has grown significantly over the past decade” in Portugal.

However, Valdes Dombrowskis said, “There are other member states in the European Union in which the weight of tourism in the economy is greater than Portugal,” noting that in addition to that, there are “other communication sectors that have also been severely affected,” […] As well as cultural, entertainment and transport events, especially aviation, “in Portugal and abroad.

Since May 17, passengers arriving from countries that are part of the European Union, countries associated with the Schengen area (Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland) and the United Kingdom, with the rate of SARS-2 infection less than 500 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days, can do all Types of excursions to Portugal, including non-essential excursions (such as tourism).

As a condition, passengers must provide evidence of a negative laboratory test result (RT-PCR) for SARS-CoV-2, which is performed within 72 hours prior to departure.

Also on May 17, the UK began a new phase of its deflationary plan, including permission to travel abroad on vacation, at a time when only a few countries, including Portugal, would allow the British in.

In these statements to reporters, Valdes Dombrowski also spoke about the Portugal recovery and resilience plan, which was presented to the European Commission in mid-April and expected a total of € 16.6 billion (of which € 13.9 billion related to grants), and spoke of “a lot of focus on diversification. Economy and enhancing the added value of the economy and innovation. “

“Therefore, I believe that implementing the recovery and resilience plan will, in fact, facilitate sustainable economic growth in Portugal,” concluded Valdes Dombrowskis.

On Friday, the government presented a plan to revitalize tourism Building the Future, which identifies an investment of 6,112 million euros in the Portuguese tourism sector to exceed the target of 27 billion euros in tourism revenues in 2027.

Also on that day, ambassadors to the European Union provided “unanimous support” to the agreement reached Thursday on the “covid-19 digital certificate”, which aims to facilitate freedom of movement within society since the summer, with the final approval of Parliament and the Council to enter proof of transit Free of charge for testing, recovery or vaccination takes effect.

Read also: The ECB deputy advises a “gradual” and “prudent” withdrawal from the moratorium

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