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The Vale do Homem Business Association (AEVH) today considered that Gerês “had no more people” this summer than in previous years, referring to an increase in “internal demand” that “filled” the lack of foreign migrants and tourists.
Speaking to Lusa about the summer season in Terras do Bouro, a village in the Braga district considered the main gateway to the Peneda-Gerês National Park, the head of AEVH, Carlos Silva, justified the “false perception” of having “ Much more people ”in the place due to a higher demand from national tourists.
Carlos Silva admitted, however, that the summer of the covid-19 pandemic “was good” and “helped to balance” some sectors of activity.
“Contrary to what has been suggested, this year there were no more people in Gerês. There was more internal demand from national tourists, but it came to make up for the lack of emigrants, ”he explained.
According to Carlos Silva, summer “was a good time” for tourism, but the “main impact” was in the hotel sector.
“In terms of accommodation, it was a very good year, with higher demand than previous years, but this demand did not have the same impact on restaurants and commerce,” he said.
Carlos Silva highlighted the “vote of confidence of the national tourist” in the area.
According to the official, “an early increase was felt by national tourists who, as a general rule, either travel abroad or to other areas of the country, but who, this year, were prevented or with more difficulties. to do it “.
“On the other hand, we received fewer people from outside and, above all, we did not have the return of our emigrants who, in summer, alone, tend to fill the town, cafes, restaurants, accommodation and mess with the local economy, which was also seen very affected by the cancellation of popular festivals, “he continued.
AEVH also realized that the effects of the lawsuit were not only felt in the summer: “As soon as the confinement ends [devido à covid-19] We started looking for accommodation, but now more than houses than isolated rooms ”.
Although the summer “helped balance” the local economy in some way, that business association emphasized that the current pandemic situation has been very “tough” for the area.
“Summer helped but didn’t save, so to speak. Our associates felt and continue to feel a strong and very negative impact caused by the conditions of the pandemic ”, he warned.
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