The Secretary of State for Tourism called this Tuesday for an effort by the sector to develop traffic in the rest of the country’s airports, while there is no decision on the new Lisbon airport, responsible for 50% of national traffic.
“Lisbon airport is extremely important for tourism, […] is a great claim that the tourism sector has been presenting for many years, [mas] represents 50% of national air traffic, we have another 50% to work on, to lift and, therefore, we have extraordinary potential here”, began defending Rita Marques, at the 6th Tourism Summit of Portugal, the first face-to-face since the pandemic. , in the auditorium of the Champalimaud Foundation, in Lisbon.
The governor stressed that As long as there is no decision on the location of the new Lisbon airport, “the tourism sector cannot give up”pointing out that the country has several national airports, in Porto, Faro and in the autonomous regions.
“Let us all make an effort so that the other 50% [do tráfego aéreo]those who depend on us, can attract more tourists, better tourists“, thus also contributing to the development of territorial cohesion, he added.
On World Tourism Day, the Secretary of State also addressed the problem of the lack of workers, recalling that the sector has a responsibility to “welcome” workers that is intended to be raised with the mobility agreements in the area of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), specifically in salary matters.
Rita Marques pointed out that the tourism sector “pays less” than others, despite the effort that has been made to pay more, she stressed that work must be done to create better conditions for workers.
In response to the president of the Portuguese Tourism Confederation (CTP), Francisco Calheiros, who at the opening of the summit complained that the support for companies announced by the Government had not arrived or was insufficient, said the Secretary of State of Tourism. that, in what depended on Turismo de Portugal, the 2,000 million euros made available within the framework of the Reactivate Tourism program are already on the side of entrepreneurs.
Source: Observadora
