Portugal’s French owned airports operator, ANA and Tourism of Portugal have signed an agreement to promote tourism and to integrate some of their marketing activities.
The protocol was signed on the day that the Bank of Portugal showed that tourism was the "saviour" of the country’s trade balance, representing almost 15% of Portuguese exports.
The two organisations say that they will speak with one voice and work together to develop new air routes and better manage those that exist.
The aim of the joint enterprise is to bring more tourists to Portugal and a total spend of €10 million has been earmarked to be spent over the next five years.
The president of Tourism of Portugal, João Cotrim Figueiredo said that 2014 was the best year ever for tourism but future growth must be secured.
Trade Minister Pires de Lima said that tourists have been spending €28 million a day, a result that he considers as ‘brilliant.’
A capitalist to the core, Pires de Lima said that the private sector supplying the tourism market should have all the conditions to create wealth and distribute it to their workers, instead of paying more taxes to the state.
ANA has not gone as far as to lower its airport fees (see http://www.algarvedailynews.com/news/4852-ryanair-wants-faro-airport-s-off-season-fees-slashed ) but aims to spend on bringing more flights and passengers to Portugal to enhance its own profitability, using Tourism of Portugal's help.
