“TAP needs peace,” says president of the Confederation of Tourism of Portugal

The president of the Confederation of Tourism of Portugal today defended the need for “peace” at TAP for the airline to operate, also given that uncertainty for 2023 is high.

The President of CTP, Francisco Calheiros, spoke to journalists at the end of a meeting with the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who previously received a delegation from UGT, in Palácio de Belém in Lisbon.

Specifying that TAP was omitted from the topics discussed during the meeting with Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, questioned about the controversy with the former Secretary of State for Finance Alexandra Reis and, although he declined to make political remarks, Francisco Calheiros believed that these ” are things that shouldn’t pinch TAP, but are things that are unpleasant”.

“TAP needs rest to work,” he said, adding that the airline is “very important for Portuguese tourism”.

During the hearing with Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, CTP expressed concern about the airport issue, according to Francisco Calheiros.

“We came to address the issue of the airport, a subject that permanently concerns the President of the Republic and that we are very concerned about. It is perhaps the biggest problem that we have at the moment,” he said. .

This year’s agenda also included the balance of tourism figures, but also the outlook for 2023.

“For 2023, we only have one certainty, and that is uncertainty. […] Since there are last minute bookings, there is no doubt that it is very difficult to have a prediction of what the year 2023 could look like.

In addition to Francisco Calheiros, the Vice-President of the Board of Directors of CTP, Carlos Moura (President of AHRESP – Associação da Hotelaria, Restauração e Comparees de Portugal), and the Member of the Board of Directors of CTP Pedro Costa Ferreira (of APAVT – Portuguese Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies).

On Thursday, the President of the Republic will also receive the Confederation of Commerce and Services of Portugal (CCP), the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers – National Intersindical (CGTP-IN) and the Confederation of Affairs of Portugal (CIP).