According to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, “this phase is the most difficult” of the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which will last for “six or seven months”, and that is why “it is very important to have Portuguese tourism during next year and, in particular, until the end of next summer.”

To the Portuguese people, the President of the Republic stated that those who had taken staycations at home in Portugal “were extraordinary in travelling this summer, in travelling the country, in helping to fill a part of the void left by foreigners who did not come, in not going abroad and instead staying in Portugal, discovering the wonders in Portugal.”

“Continue to do the same, from here until the end of the year and in the New Year. And the same from then until Easter. And, if you have a vacation, or if you have a few days, or long weekends, in that time, especially at Easter. And then, when also planning the summer holidays next year “, he appealed.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa asked Portuguese people to “start thinking about booking your holidays in plenty of time, to provide a horizon of security for tourism in Portugal, and for restaurants, and part of the trade, and other activities that are linked to each other and so many other services”.

“A year ago, the concern for some of you - I think, despite everything, a minority - was that we may have too many tourists. Our concern now is in having fewer tourists, this year and next year.

So, the Portuguese must travel themselves as tourists in their own land”, he insisted.