The president of CTP argued, at the Conference for World Tourism Day held on Saturday in Tróia, that “Portuguese tourism cannot grow further without a new airport” and that “the new airport cannot become operational without basic infrastructures.”
“The Portela Airport [in Lisbon] is exhausted, and the quick fix of improvement works is not a solution, as they improve conditions but do not increase its capacity,” he stated.
Francisco Calheiros also emphasized the railway as “a necessity for the country” and mentioned that a high-speed connection between Lisbon and Porto and Lisbon and Madrid would free up about “40 daily flights from Portela.”
“The railway is, as we know, a necessity for the country and would undoubtedly be a mobility solution that would greatly benefit tourism,” he remarked.
On the topic of employment, the CTP leader noted immigration and highlighted a partnership between CTP, Turismo Portugal, and the Agency for Integration of Migrations and Asylum (AIMA) aimed at identifying, training, and professionally integrating immigrants in Portugal’s tourism sector.
Regarding labor law, Calheiros argued that “the individual hour bank, the very short intermittent contract, and employment contracts with students during school holidays or breaks” are “essential.”
“Clear, modern labor legislation adapted to the international economic context will allow tourism to attract more talent, create sustainable jobs, and strengthen its position as a driver of the national economy,” defended the president of CTP.
