Quarteira campsite users with no place to go

Residents at the Quarteira campsite have been issued with a departure order but do not know where to go

in Algarve · 09 Apr 2020, 01:00 · 2 Comments

One week before the end of the deadline given by Orbitur for residents to leave the Quarteira campsite, users complain that they have nowhere to go, although the company suggests moving to another park.

At stake is the sale of the land by Orbitur - the company that manages most of the Portuguese campsites - to a real estate fund in 2008, but the park has remained in operation until now through a lease that was being renewed annually.

In a statement sent to Lusa, the company said that the closure was announced for September 2019, but that there was "an extension of use" and customers were "notified that the special monthly agreement conditions would end on March 31", there are no guarantees of "continuity of space management" beyond April 15.

"So far, the only information we have is that the park will close on the 15th. With the state of emergency, we have nowhere to go," one of the park's 20 residents, located in the municipality of Loulé, complained to Lusa, in the district of Faro.

Miguel Matias also said that the monthly fee increased to "200, 300 or even 500 euros" at the beginning of April, a value that "cannot be paid".

"I have two small children and I can't go to the street, where there is no water, there is no electricity. We were all here in the park," he insisted.

With the state of emergency enacted by the government in force until April 17, the camper defended that until that date the 20 residents "will not leave", even with the deadline given by the park administration ending "two days before" .

Contacted by Lusa, the Mayor of Loulé, confirmed "to be following" the process, stating that "nobody can contradict what the state of emergency imposes and that nobody will leave while this state of exception prevails".

Considering that a subsequent departure from users "is inevitable", he revealed that the municipal services are monitoring the process and making a survey of the cases, "which is not yet complete".

In a statement, Orbitur indicated that the declaration of a state of emergency only caught park customers by surprise "who either did not want to, or for personal reasons were unable to leave", which they could have done, for another park in their network in Algarve with the same conditions, such as the Valverde park, in Lagos.

As for the price change, the company stated that "no price was inflated" and that "all the conditions and prices in force were known in advance" by customers.

"Customers were always informed of what was going on, in addition to that we always comply with our obligations", stressed the same source.

Orbitur also affirms to be "in solidarity with the situation of the customers", having not demanded "any payment", because "it needs the customers to leave when the state of emergency ends", so that it can fulfill the responsibility before the owner of the ground.

Due to the covid-19 pandemic, Portugal has been in a state of emergency since 00:00 on March 19 and until the end of April 17, after the extension approved on Thursday in the Assembly of the Republic.

Orbitur is well aware that we are under the Declaration of State of Emergency. Customers staying at the campsite should also be aware that it was only possible for them to stay there because Orbitur listed them to stay, and declared so to the authorities, otherwise they would have made them leave. And because that’s in fact the way it is, we want to make it very clear.

As a matter of fact, at the same time delivering to the authorities the list of customers we proposed to be allowed to stay in the campsite, and by taking the responsibility of committing with the remaining customers towards the authorities, Orbitur was at th same time obliged to close all services in the campsite, except providing electricity, water, and minimum hygiene facilities.

About April prices at Quarteira campsite, they were already fixed, since January 1st, and nobody increased any prices since then.

We are living unprecedented difficult times and we quite understand how unquietly and troubled days everybody has been through, but depending on Orbitur nobody will make Customers leave the campsite during the State of Emergency, unless they want to.

Now, if it happens that British Customers get their Ferry confirmation in the meantime and / or if they just decide to leave Quarteira campsite anytime from now, depending on when it occurs in time, we’ll make the necessary adjustments on their bills. So, nothing to worry about!

The fact is that all Quarteira Customers had the chance to move to another Orbitur campsite in due time, in case they wanted, namely to Valverde, in Lagos, alternative which stands after the State of Emergency is cleared.

For those chosing to move to Valverde and from the date we are able to receive them there, we’ll adjust their payment conditions according to Valverde montlhy fees, identically to those of Quarteira campsite.

Meanwhile, be safe, take care! Happy Easter time!

Kind regards
Beatriz Santos / Orbitur

By BEATRIZ SANTOS from Porto on 09 Apr 2020, 18:48

If there's such a thing as karma then perhaps when you've moved the campervans from your land then god willing you won't be able to build on this land for decades to Come as coronavirus will hit Portugals real estate big time. Real Estate is far cheaper in spain than Portugal so as Portugal and all other countries enter reccesion after coronavirus then its going to change people's priority and there first priority will be to keep there jobs and pay there rent or mortgage on there own homes. Not rush out and buy holiday homes because even a iation will be affected for years to come and air flight will no longer be as cheap to travel as it has been. Coronavirus is a life changing virus. Spain still hasn't recovered from the housing crash of 2008 . Portugal is no differe t as the country relies on tourism and Europeans buying homes. Your in for the biggest shock since the second World War of the impact across eu. Job losses by the millions. Banks will not want to give credit or loans for real estate for building projects especially based upon holiday homes. Personally I think the owner of this land has shot themselves in the foot. This is just my personal view based on what happens in 2008. This is going to be like the wall street crash in comparison.
Perhaps best turn this land into agricultural so you can feed yourself if you need to.

By .michael from UK on 13 Apr 2020, 14:36