Tourist resorts in the Algarve will have at their disposal a specific support line of 10 million euros to support the implementation of water efficiency measures, within the scope of the ‘Save Water’ label, it was announced today.
The +Eficiência Hídrica Algarve Line, which will be available from April 1st, was created specifically in the context of this water efficiency program that will certify the reduction of water consumption by tourist resorts, explained the president of Turismo de Portugal, Carlos Abade.
He was speaking at the public presentation of the ‘Save Water’ water efficiency label, which includes 60 measures, and the respective awareness campaign for tourists, held today at the headquarters of the Algarve Tourism Board in Faro.
This was one of the measures approved in February by the Council of Ministers to reduce by 15% the volume of water consumed by the urban sector, which includes the tourism sector, as part of the fight against the drought in the region.
The funding line, with non-repayable support, has a budget of 10 million euros, from Turismo de Portugal’s own revenues. All the investments needed to carry out the measures are eligible, with an incentive rate of 50% on eligible expenses and a maximum value per company of 50 thousand euros.
Companies operating tourist developments in the Algarve will also have access to the national Sustainable Tourism Support Line, which has a total amount of 50 million euros to support investments in the area of environmental sustainability, the president of Turismo de Portugal also revealed.
This support instrument involves a loan granted by the bank (maximum of 750,000 euros), with a 30% performance bonus that can be awarded to companies as long as they meet the performance indicators for water efficiency.
The 60 measures planned for voluntary adherence to the ‘Save Water’ label, to be carried out in three phases by the end of the year, are divided into 20 priorities, those that will give the most immediate results, and 40 structuring measures, in the areas of devices, alternative sources, irrigation, swimming pools, equipment, cleaning, behavior, and management and maintenance.
The measures will be monitored by Adene – the Energy Agency, through a portal specifically created for this purpose, where companies will also report their consumption.
“If they don’t implement the measures they’ve committed to, or if they don’t report their consumption, they won’t be able to wear the label,” said the president of the Algarve Tourism Board, André Gomes, who in a second phase wants to extend the scope of the ‘Save Water’ label to local accommodation and other companies linked to the sector.
He estimated a “massive turnout” from the region’s tourist accommodation units, despite it being a voluntary initiative, pointing out that some of them have already been implementing water efficiency measures for months.
Turismo de Portugal is going to create an awareness campaign for tourists, who will be confronted with six transparent suitcases containing 235 liters of water in the arrivals area of Faro Airport when they pick up their luggage.
This is the volume of water that, according to the World Health Organization, a “conscious and responsible tourist can save per day during their stay”, explained Lídia Monteiro, head of Turismo de Portugal, about an action that aims to have a direct impact on tourists.
The Secretary of State for Tourism, Trade and Services, Nuno Fazenda, stressed that the ‘Save Water’ project will contribute to “reaffirming the Algarve as a destination that will lead the way in tourism sustainability on a global scale”.
