The association warns in a statement that “the scourge of fires has caused cancellations of reservations and closures of businesses, with significant drops in occupancy rates in accommodation and a reduction in demand across all tourism activities, seriously compromising the sustainability of businesses and jobs.”
The AHRESP also notes that during a meeting with Secretary of State for Tourism, Commerce and Services, Pedro Machado, it presented “objective proposals that allow for compensation of losses already recorded and mitigation of future impacts,” arguing that “given the specificity of these losses, support must assume a strong non-repayable component, ensuring immediate liquidity for companies.”
While the association does not detail the measures presented, it warns that “without quick and effective responses, the fires could compromise not only the high season of 2025 but also the future attractiveness of the affected destinations, with severe consequences for the local and national economy.”
In the same statement, AHRESP recalls that under a protocol with the Portuguese Firefighters League, “the dispatch of essential food supplies to the operation theaters, intended for firefighters on the ground, has been coordinated,” a initiative made possible “thanks to contributions from several companies that have joined this common cause.”
Mainland Portugal has been affected by multiple large-scale rural fires since July, especially in the North and Center regions.
The fires have caused three deaths, including a firefighter, and several injuries, some serious, and have completely or partially destroyed primary and secondary homes as well as agricultural and livestock operations and forested areas.
Portugal has activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism, under which it has two Fire Boss planes, with two more Canadair planes expected to arrive on Friday.
According to provisional official data, 234,000 hectares have burned in the country to date, more than 53,000 of which in the Arganil fire alone.
