The fires that affected the country led to “massive cancellations” of reservations in hotels, accommodation and restaurants, in the middle of the time, threatening to compromise the results of 2025, Thursday told Lusa Ahresp, which awaits measures to support the sector.
“For now, we know that many businesses have been inoperative, not because they were physically hit by the flames, but by several factors,” such as “massive reserve cancellations, which have left hotels, accommodation and restaurants virtually without clients,” said the secretary general of the Association of Hospitality, Restoration and Similar of Portugal (Ahresp), Ana Jacinto, in a written response sent to Lusa.
In addition, the fires that mainly affected the North and Center of the country caused “serious failures in fixed and mobile communications, which prevented reservations, payments, contacts with suppliers and even the fulfillment of basic security requirements”, as well as warned closures, which interdicted access to forest zones, affecting companies located outside the spihood of fire.
The association said that “it has had the opportunity to present its proposals to the government and awaits the implementation of support measures for tourism”, noting that in low density territories, where these fires have become felt, summer is a crucial time for annual economic exercise.
“The month of August, traditionally with occupancy rates close to 100%, recorded breaks that shot these rates to levels below 5%,” said.
Thus, the association pointed out that the economic exercise of 2025 is not only threatened, but also “the future attractiveness of already fragile destinations”, and therefore the reconstruction of those territories is urgent.
“Without forest there is no landscape, no tourism, no future for these regions,” said Ana Jacinto, considering that it is “fundamental to restore security perception and to make all efforts so that the green spot, which gives identity and life to these territories, is regenerated as soon as possible.”
Continental Portugal was affected by multiple large rural fires in July and August, especially in the North and Center.
The fires caused four dead, including a firefighter, and several injuries, some seriously, and destroyed full or partially destroyed first and second housing houses, as well as agricultural explorations and livestock and forest area.
According to provisional official data, until August 23, about 250,000 hectares in the country, more than 57,000 of which only began in Arganil.
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