“The CTP raises significant concerns about the decision to again establish a State Secretariat that combines Tourism, Commerce, and Services. This is a solution that seems inefficient to us and does not allow a full focus on the different challenges and problems faced by each of these two sectors,” said Francisco Calheiros, president of the CTP, in a statement released today by the confederation.
In the document, the CTP expresses “surprise and displeasure” at the creation of this State Secretariat, lamenting that Tourism reduces “its importance within the Government’s structure,” as it loses exclusivity in terms of oversight.
The list of Secretaries of State for the XXV Constitutional Government, approved by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, was announced late Thursday, with the officials being sworn in late this morning.
Pedro Machado, who led Tourism of the Center for 16 years until 2023, remained with the State Secretariat of Tourism. In the new administration, he combines the tourism portfolio with Commerce and Services.
He holds a master’s degree in Educational Sciences and a degree in Philosophy, having been president of ARPT – Regional Agency for External Tourist Promotion of the Center of Portugal and the Regional Entity of Tourism of the Center of Portugal.
In the statement, the CTP praised the continuation of Pedro Machado, considering him a “profound connoisseur of the files and challenges currently facing the tourism sector.”
Also in the document, Francisco Calheiros expressed confidence “that tourism will continue to receive all the attention it needs and deserves, whether in achieving the growth objectives of the economy’s driving activity or in the priority that Pedro Machado has given to the problems and challenges” in the sector.
The second government led by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro will have 16 ministries, one less than the previous one, and will retain 13 of the 17 ministers from the outgoing administration.
The inauguration of the XXV Constitutional Government took place on Thursday, 18 days after the elections, marking the fastest government formation process in President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s presidential terms.
Today, the President of the Republic swore in the 43 State Secretaries in a ceremony at the Ajuda National Palace in Lisbon.
