Portugal’s Travel agency bosses fear the aftermath of the privatisation of TAP, or more specifically they fear what will happen if the privatisation is botched.
Enter one Pedro Costa Ferreira, who as the president of the Portuguese Association of Travel Agencies said today on behalf of his members that all are "very concerned" about the privatisation of TAP and fear that "if it is poorly carried out, it may have irreparable consequences for Portuguese tourism."
Ferreira chose his timing well as the 40th Conference of the Portuguese Association of Travel Agencies had as its government invitee, Paulo Portas, deputy prime minister who is pro-privatisation and could offer a few words of comfort.
Ferreira said that "the problem of accessibility is always fundamental in tourism and has an even greater relevance in the case of Portugal due to its peripheral location and because, to grow, we depend on external markets. The majority of TAP flights and tourists arrive at the Lisbon hub which offers strategic links that bring us competitive advantages."
"We don’t want to discuss who purchases TAP, but we know our business. We admit that privatisation may be required to raise capital, but if a false step is made it cannot be undone. For us, it is essential that in the sale contract the continuation of the Lisbon hub is a condition” and that any new owner sticks to the agreement to keep it so.
Paulo Portas attempted to reassure the travel agents present, saying that the TAP deal would protect the Lisbon hub and that the privatisation would be carried out with due care and attention.
The subjects that Portas would not be drawn on were Sócrates’ imprisonment and the proposed Lisbon ‘tourist tax.’
The deputy PM did hint at his views on Carlos Costa’s per night tax for Lisbon tourists by saying the way forward for growth is “to reduce local costs and not create new local costs."
Paulo Portas did emphasise that tourism "is the most prominent sector in the economic growth of the country."
"Tourism has supplied more than 80% of the money that the country would have had to borrow to pay for its imports," which "saved every Portuguese citizen over €600. Without tourism we would have to sell €6 billion of assets each year."
