The Government has created a new mechanism to support the recovery of business activity, aimed at supporting micro, small, and medium tourism companies in their efforts to adapt and invest in their establishments, allowing them to adjust their work organization methods and relationships with clients and suppliers to the post-COVID-19 context. Each company may submit only one application. 

The Program applies to the entire national territory, and projects are eligible if they fall under the economic activities with the tourism CAE, and focus on establishments in activity. Beneficiaries are micro, small and medium enterprises of any nature and under any legal form. 

Project eligibility requirements 

- To carry out an investment with a value in eligible expenditures of no less than €2500 euros; 

- To have a maximum implementation period of 12 months, starting from the date of notification of the favorable decision, and ending on 31 December 2022; 

- Not to have been initiated on the date of the application submission; 

- To be in compliance with the applicable legal and regulatory provisions. 

Eligible Expenses 

- Costs with the requalification, modernization and expansion of existing spaces, including adaptation works, allowing for the response to needs resulting from the pandemic; - Acquisition and installation of automatic payment devices, including self-check-in and self-check-out systems, preferably those using contactless technology; 

- Initial costs associated with the hosting of applications/software relevant to the post-pandemic context, including investment in hardware required for this purpose; initial adhesion to e-commerce platforms; creation of website/online store/app justified by the current context, as well as the creation and initial publication of new electronic content and inclusion or cataloging in directories or search engines; 

- Acquisition of specialized consulting services for the adaptation of the business model to the new challenges of the context following the pandemic, as well as for the resulting requalification, modernization and expansion of facilities; 

- Expenses with the intervention of certified accountants or statutory auditors, in the expense validation of the payment requests, up to the value of 15% of the investment value and with a limit of 2500 euros. 

The Nature of the support and incentive rate 

The support is granted as a non-refundable grant. The incentive rate is 75% over eligible expenses, with a maximum limit of €15 000 per company. 

In the case of companies that were closed due to a Government order, in the context of the pandemic situation, and with main activity under the CAE 56302, 56304, 56305, 93210, and 93294, the incentive rate is increased to 85%, with a maximum limit of €20 000 per company. 

Decision on applications 

Applications are submitted using the form available on the Turismo de Portugal, I.P. website (www.turismodeportugal.pt) 

Applications shall be decided upon by this entity, according to the verification of compliance with the eligibility requirements, and the incentive shall be calculated on the basis of the budget overview presented in the application. Decisions on applications shall be issued within 10 working days after their submission date, not including the time needed to respond to any clarifications that may be requested. 

Payments to beneficiaries 

Payments to beneficiaries shall be made by Turismo de Portugal, according to the following procedures: 

- An automatic initial advance payment is processed after validation of the term of acceptance, in the amount equivalent to 50% of the approved incentive; 

- The request for final payment shall be submitted by the beneficiary within a maximum deadline of 30 working days after the conclusion date of the project, and the amount of the incentive to be made available shall be determined on the basis of an expense statement on the implementation of the eligible investment signed by the company and confirmed by a certified accountant or certified public accountant; 

- The final payment is made based on the above mentioned statement of expenses of eligible investment, without prejudice to the control and audit mechanisms. 

Source: Turismo de Portugal