“The sector does not see the requested reduction as a very dramatic measure,” the president of the Association of Hotels and Tourist Enterprises of the Algarve (AHETA), Hélder Martins, told Lusa agency.

The Government announced on Wednesday that the Algarve will have water cuts of 25% in agriculture and 15% in the urban sector, which includes tourism, to preserve water reserves.

The head of the largest hotel association in the region states that since last year, businesspeople in the sector have been making cuts in several areas, and “it is possible to achieve the reduction without much concern”.

“We will work to meet the outlined goals,” said Hélder Martins, adding that some of the measures decided were proposed by AHETA.

Hélder Martins said that in 2023 measures were taken to raise awareness among tourists, such as asking them not to throw towels on the floor and reuse them the next day, behaviour that will save a lot of water used in washing.

“These are test measures that we will continue to encourage,” said the hotelier.

The need to impose water cuts in the Algarve was decided by the Permanent Commission for Prevention, Monitoring and Monitoring of the Effects of Drought, which, according to Duarte Cordeiro, proposes 46 measures that should be included in a Resolution of the Council of Ministers.

“What could pose a problem is if we have more tourists and greater water consumption this year. This can be complicated”, said Hélder Martins.

Hélder Martins stated that there are high structural investments that, in order to be made, must have support, such as changing the type of green areas or reducing water flows in swimming pools or taps.