This decision is set out in a proposal by Mayor João Teixeira Leite, sent to the news agency Lusa, which calls for "evaluating solutions to enable the conversion of a municipal property within that complex" for tourism and hospitality purposes.

According to the document, the former EPC site is considered a "strategic asset" for the municipality, with significant historical, architectural, and heritage value; its rehabilitation is viewed as "crucial for boosting the city's vitality and enhancing its appeal."

The local government maintains that establishing a hotel at the site could meet the anticipated rise in tourism demand, driven by major projects such as "Viva Mundo," which "could attract both domestic and international visitors," according to the document.

The "Viva Mundo" theme park project was unveiled on the 11th of this month; it represents a €450 million private investment linked to the 2030 FIFA World Cup and is projected to create 800 direct jobs while attracting approximately 1.5 million visitors annually.

The proposal notes that the investment will help "strengthen the supply of high-quality accommodation" and enhance the value of municipal assets, while also serving as a "key element in the site's redevelopment" and contributing to the "creation of a new urban hub."

The municipal administration also highlights the project's potential economic impact, pointing to positive effects on

Regarding the operational model, the municipality is considering various solutions, "such as leasing or granting surface rights," adding that the current goal is to "create the conditions to evaluate the most suitable model without yet defining a concrete solution."

At the City Council meeting held on Monday, the Mayor of Santarém, João Teixeira Leite, justified the proposal by citing the urgent need to increase accommodation capacity in the municipality, describing it as a "serious problem" that is already hindering the hosting of events.

According to the mayor, the municipality has had to turn down "more than a dozen major events" due to a lack of available beds, noting that even with a new hotel scheduled to open early next year, the supply will remain insufficient.

In his remarks, he also highlighted the potential impact of an international-scale hotel, noting that such operators could help strengthen Santarém's "territorial marketing" and "boost the municipality's visibility."

Furthermore, he assured that the process would safeguard the entities and workers currently based at the former Cavalry Practical School site, as well as respect heritage preservation requirements, noting that meetings had already been held with the heritage authority to assess the project's impact.

PS councillor Pedro Ribeiro stated that the Socialists, who voted against the proposal, do not object to establishing a hotel at the site, provided the project is compatible with preserving the space.

The councillor criticised the lack of a clearly defined project area in the documents submitted to the meeting, arguing that a process of this nature demands greater rigour and should not be decided "in this manner."

Pedro Ribeiro also warned of the long-term impact of such decisions, noting that arrangements such as concessions or leases could remain in effect for "40 or 50 years," thereby limiting future options for the site. The councillor also highlighted that the City Council has managed the former Cavalry Practical School for about two decades without having defined a comprehensive project for the complex, reiterating that any intervention should stem from that strategic vision.