The Portuguese government has earmarked 150 million euros ($164 million) worth of credit to help local companies affected by the collapse of British travel firm Thomas Cook, the cabinet said on Friday.
Each firm is eligible for up to 1.5 million euros of credit and can apply for a loan by calling a purpose-set helpline.
Portugal was little affected by cancellations of Thomas Cook flights but the tourist-packed Algarve region fears hotel bills will be left unpaid as the holiday season draws to an end.
In a statement, the government said it will also make available 2.25 million euros specifically to help the Algarve region in southern Portugal and the island of Madeira cope with the collapse.
The statement said those two regions were the most affected, but provided no details.
The cash will be used by those areas to try and generate holiday demand from the UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, Ireland, Poland and Nordic markets, the government said.
Tourism bodies will meet on Saturday to assess the situation and decide on next steps.
(REUTERS)
The Department of National Zoological Gardens is readying enclosures to quarantine two large tortoises that were found stranded 15 kilometers westwards off Pitipana Negombo, today.
Read this week’s Sunday Times for your interesting articles including the ’’5th Column’’.
The Customs Department said it will be publish the names of institutions and individuals who violate customs laws and commit tax fraud by uploading the information on its official website www.customs.gov.lk.
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