The government announced a payment of five million euros to tourism companies affected by the fires in August

The government has announced that tourism companies and tourism promotion projects in the municipalities of Odemira, Aljezur, Monchique, Proença a Nova and Castelo Branco, which were affected by forest fires in August, will receive support of five million euros.

The amount announced this Saturday by the Minister of Tourism, Trade and Services Nuno Fazenda is included in two lines of financial support “that aim to assist tourism companies and the promotion and development of tourism in areas affected by forest fires,” – the Ministry of Economy and the Sea said in a statement.

The Regenerate Tourism Companies – Fires 2023 Line program includes three million euros and targets tourism companies to restore and rehabilitate affected assets.

According to the government, this line “is available to all tourism companies located in the affected areas, with a maximum limit of 400 thousand euros per project and a reimbursement rate of 90% and can only be in the nature of lost funds up to 200 euros.” thousand euros or represent a composite measurement between the lost funds and the refundable incentive at a zero rate in amounts exceeding 200 thousand euros.”

On the other hand, the line “Territorial Revival – Fires 2023”, worth two million euros, aims to support projects for the structuring of tourism products and tourism promotion, targeting public institutions and private non-profit organizations with a maximum absolute amount of 400 thousand people. euros per project, non-refundable, with a participation rate of 90%.

Applications can be made at Turismo de Portugal.

“Having been on the ground since the August 2023 fire, listening to businesses and institutions, we have now implemented two support lines that meet the needs of businesses and the area. Thus, we are in close proximity to “Implementing and supporting the promotion of tourism in one of the most beautiful regions of our country,” said the Secretary of State, as quoted by the Ministry.

This Saturday also saw the signing of a protocol between the regional tourism organizations of Alentejo and Algarve for a joint tourism promotion campaign dedicated to the internal and external market of the southwest Alentejo and Costa Vicentina.

According to the Institute of Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF), August was by far the month with the highest number of rural fires, with a total of 1,768 fires, and also the highest number of fires per area, with 22,034 hectares.

The largest fires that occurred this year were the Odemir fire, which started on August 5 and burned 7,513 hectares, and the Castelo Branco fire, which also started on August 4 and burned 6,553 hectares.