Tourism of Portugal funds system generates controversy
The format for establishing incentives in the Adaptar Turismo Program and in the Events Program, both under the responsibility of Turismo de Portugal, has been controversial. These programs aim to support micro, small and medium-sized companies linked to the tourism sector in the context of post-COVID-19 recovery.
Cláudio Ferreira, from the Business Association of Felgueiras (AEF), considers that “It doesn’t make any sense for the contest to open on October 21 and that, after 24 hours, it should be closed”.
The time limitation for submitting applications adds to the technical problems of accessing the portal designated for this purpose. “It was too slow! Do not isolate yourself from entering the portal, probably because there are many people accessing it at the same time ”.
Cláudio Ferreira regrets that the municipal entrepreneurs, who articulated the respective applications with the AEF, were unable to submit them. “The funds created natural expectations for our entrepreneurs, who already knew there would be applications. We prepare them with them and waste all our time! I don’t know if it was incompetence or lack of money, but I sent an opinion to Turismo de Portugal to regret the success ”, concluded.
APENO – Portuguese Wine Tourism Association went further and denounced through the medium respective portal a situation itself dimensioned as a “Suspected Fraud”. Membership pending even if funds are canceled because “Not all companies had the same conditions for submitting applications”.