The Association of Rural Hotels of Portugal (AHRP) says that about 40% of these units have already closed or intend to close, according to the results of a survey carried out in November.
In this document, which the entity sent to the Government this month, the association also concluded that “more than 65% of these units should reduce the number of employees” and that “about 79% of tourism units in rural areas provide for 2020, an occupancy rate below 40% “.
The same survey, which had 40 responses, concluded that about 56% of rural tourism units estimate a revenue drop of more than 40% in 2020.
“It should also be noted that the majority of respondents refer to a drop in revenue values for a five-year retreat, considering 2020 revenue equivalent to 2015 revenue”, reads the same note.
AHRP also said that “when asked about the support provided by the State, all respondents were unanimous in declaring their insufficiency, given the context that is felt and in view of the limitations that have been imposed to contain infectious proliferation”.
On the same note, the association wanted to leave a “vote of praise for the action of Turismo de Portugal, as to how it managed the pandemic process, as to the efficiency of streamlining processes to support companies’ treasury, providing a simple, unbureaucratic process. , easy to use, speed in dispatch, and speed in making funds available to companies “, also praising the entity’s performance in training.
According to the same note, “companies in the sector are in an extremely weakened financial situation, and are prevented from working in the face of successive restrictions on the movement of people and the inability to operate in periods of traditionally greater demand”, the association said. , noting that the month of December was assumed “as one of the worst revenue periods in the sector”.
“The quarter that follows, if in normal times it was traditionally of low invoicing, it is highly worrying considering the pandemic situation in the country”, highlighted the association.
In view of the difficulties, AHRP called for the “reissue of the treasury support programs for micro and small companies in the sector, with a subsidy component” and the “opening of a direct line of support from Turismo de Portugal, which is reimbursable , interest-free and with a four-year period including a one-year grace period. “
The association also asks for the “extension of the measure” Support Restoration “to accommodation units with an open restaurant” that “were excluded from the support provided” under this measure previously.
Source: Correio da Manhã by www.cmjornal.pt.
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