The Algarve Tourism Region (RTA) indicated in a statement that 430 companies applied for the line launched by the Government and by Turismo de Portugal, with 154 applications having been approved until 13 April and support given to 72 companies in the region.

The president of Turismo do Algarve, João Fernandes, quoted in the document, considers that “these data are already a positive sign for tourist companies in this period of special adversity”.

"Our team will continue to do everything to respond to the needs of businessmen and workers in a sector that is essential for the region's economy and with a large share of the national GDP (Gross Domestic Product)", said the official.

According to RTA, the dynamics of the results "have been leveraged through the information and clarification campaign for entrepreneurs", launched jointly by tourism entities in the Algarve, with the motto "Yesterday, as today, we are here to help".

Applications for financial support lines to the tourism treasury are still open, and membership has not been associated with the payment of interest and has a grace period of 12 months.

The financial support measures are part of the Tourism # PorTodos programme to support the sector during the crisis caused by the covid-19 pandemic, a disease caused by the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.