At a public meeting in the Alentejo village of Monsaraz, Turismo de Portugal shared its new "Climate Refuges | Stay Cool" program.

The main goal is to set up a network of places that are easy to access, safe, and well-controlled for climate, ready to welcome local people and visitors during very hot or cold weather.

Social safeguard mechanism

The governing body emphasises that the plan is aligned with the goals of the Agenda for Climate Action in Tourism 2030. Under this premise, the strategy functions as a social safeguard mechanism and, simultaneously, as a tool for differentiating and qualifying the Portuguese tourism product in a global context where resilience and environmental sustainability are decisive factors.

Presentation in the Alentejo region symbolises the start of a joint mobilisation aimed at consolidating the country's position as a safe, prepared territory, capable of dealing with the meteorological changes of the coming decades in an operational standpoint, Turismo de Portugal will assume responsibility for the administrative management and deployment of this network across the country's regional engineering, the public entity will be responsible for instructing and training professionals in the sector.

Improving thermal comfort

This training aspect aims to equip operators with skills in contingency management and in improving thermal comfort in establishments and attractions. To this end, the institutional calendar already includes two digital information sessions (webinars) for next July: the first, aimed at the private business sector, will take place on the 9th, followed by a second session focused on local authorities, scheduled for the 16th.

The initiative's overall funding is based on a financial allocation of one million euros, channelled through the "Growing with Tourism" program. This funding is intended to subsidise the technical support and material investments required by municipalities to upgrade buildings and public spaces, equipping them with adequate insulation and thermal equipment.

It is argued that the increase and severity of acute weather events require coordinated responses with a long-term vision and an active stance with this plan to modernise regional infrastructure, raise safety levels, and improve the satisfaction of those visiting the country.

The launch event also served to formalise the program's first practical agreement, signed with the Portuguese Association of Shopping Centres.

The official ceremony in Reguengos de Monsaraz was attended by prominent figures from the sector and the political landscape, including Pedro Machado, Secretary of State for Tourism, Commerce and Services; Marta Prates, Mayor of the host municipality; the head of Turismo de Portugal, Carlos Abade; José Santos, head of the Alentejo and Ribatejo Regional Tourism Authority; and Carla Pinto, executive director of the representative body for shopping centers in the country.