The head of Portugal’s tourist board has launched a plan to double the country's tourist revenue over the next ten years.
Turismo de Portugal’s boss, Luís Araújo, was at the Lisbon Tourism Fair to launch his Strategy 2027 to the tourism sector from which he expects €26 billion in revenue in 2027. Last year, Portugal recorded tourist revenues of €12.7 billion, so to reach Araújo’s target, an annual growth rate of 7% is needed.
Portugal’s Finance Minister, Mário Centeno, fears an "irreversible breach of trust" if details of dodgy loans made by Caixa Geral de Depósitos are released. Centeno also wants details of Caixa Geral's 2012 recapitalisation kept well away from scrutiny, even by MPs.
Both financial regulators - the Bank of Portugal and the stock exchange regulatory body, CMVM, - also fear the release of certain documents that could reveal what really went on at the State-owned bank. Their concern is that there will be such an uproar that the further recapitalisation planned may be seen as throwing good money after bad, and is scrapped.
Portugal’s vehicle accident rate in urban areas, "is much higher than in Europe," with excess speed being the main factor.
The president of the Portugal’s road accident prevention authority (PRP), commented, "We continue with a particularly serious problem within urban areas, particularly if compared to the other European countries. We have out-of-town accident claims that are below the European average, but within towns and cities the claims ratio is much higher than the European average."
The National Maritime Authority reports that a man has been rescued from the base of a cliff in the Aljezur area.
"The Port Captain and the head of the Maritime Police in Lagos coordinated a rescue operation for a bodyboarder who fell down the cliff at Praia da Pipa, Aljezur."
Portugal’s percentage of energy consumption from renewable sources is the eighth highest of the 28 countries in the European Union.
Data from Eurostat show that in 2015, the share of energy from renewable sources in the total consumption of energy reached 16.7% in the EU, roughly twice as much as in 2004 (8.5 %).
The Santa Clara-a-Velha tourist office is to reopen on March 21st after its extensive refit. The remodeling is aimed to provide "a better service for tourists and boost the tourist offer of the interior," according to the council in Odemira.
Santa Clara-a-Velha, (dwindled population estimated at around 500), due north of Monchique and just over the border into the Alentejo, is a picture perfect village on a well-used Rota Vicentina walking route and to near the massive 1968 reservoir overlooked by a defunct 'pousada' that now is privately owned and has been 'opening soon' for years.
Faro's shops, bars and eateries are to have their hours set by the council in a move that ends the rights of owners to set their own opening and closing times.
The council approved a regulation document on March 6th which is set to be enacted, ending the liberal regime set up at the end of 2005, according to Sul Informação.
Algarve Left Bloc MPs, Jorge Costa and João Vasconcelos, have put the Ministry of the Economy on the spot by asking why a west Algarve solar energy plant is to receive taxpayer-funded subsidies.
The government has been crowing about licensing a new wave of ‘subsidy free’ renewable energy projects, including the recently authorised €220 million solar farm in Alcoutim, so it is a little more than curious that the company, Hyperion, has stated that it will receive taxpayer subsidies for its new 44Kw project in Bensafrim, Lagos.
