The amount, announced on Saturday 4 November by the Secretary of State for Tourism, Commerce and Service, Nuno Fazenda, is included in two lines of financial support, “which aim to respond to tourism companies and the promotion and tourism enhancement of the territories, as a result of the forest fires ”, according to a statement from the Ministry of Economy and the Sea.

The Regenerate Tourism Companies – Fires 2023 Line includes three million euros and is aimed at tourism companies for the recovery and rehabilitation of affected assets.

According to the Government, this line “is available to all tourism companies located in the affected territories, with a maximum limit of 400 thousand euros per project and a reimbursement rate of 90%, who may only have the nature of lost funds up to 200 thousand euros or present a composite dimension between lost funds and refundable incentive, at zero rate, in amounts greater than 200 thousand euros”.

Additionally, the Regenerate Territories – Fires 2023 Line, worth two million euros, aims to support projects for structuring tourist products and promoting tourism, aimed at public entities and private non-profit entities with the absolute maximum limit of 400 thousand euros per project, non-refundable, with a participation rate of 90%.

Applications can be formalised with Turismo de Portugal.

“After having been on the ground, in the aftermath of the August 2023 fire, listening to companies and institutions, we have now implemented two lines of support that respond to the needs of business people and the territory. We are, therefore, in close proximity, implementing and supporting the tourism promotion of one of the most beautiful regions of our country”, said the Secretary of State, quoted by the ministry.

A protocol was also signed between the Regional Tourism Entities of Alentejo and Algarve for a joint tourism promotion campaign dedicated to the internal and external market of Southwest Alentejo and Costa Vicentina.

According to the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF), August was the month, to date, that had the highest number of rural fires, with a total of 1,768 fires, as well as the largest in burned area, with 22,034 hectares.

The biggest fires that occurred this year were that of Odemira, which started on August 5th and consumed 7,513 hectares, and that of Castelo Branco, which also started on August 4th and burned 6,553 hectares.