A total of 18 sites distributed across five municipalities in the Alentejo are already part of the Stay Cool Climatic Refuge network, which provides visitors with amenities such as climate-controlled environments, potable water, and resting areas.
In a statement, the Regional Tourism Authority (ERT) of the Alentejo and Ribatejo indicated yesterday that it is committed to “the creation of a regional network of climatic refuges,” in which the municipalities of Almodôvar and Cuba, in the Beja district, Arronches and Castelo de Vide, in the Portalegre district, and Mourão, in the Évora district, are already integrated.
“Other municipalities will follow,” promised the ERT, considering the initiative as “strategic.”
The objective, he argued, is that “the Stay Cool Climatic Refuge Network expands to the entire territory, contributing to the increase of the destination’s competitiveness, particularly in the summer, by providing exterior and interior environments that are thermally more stable and pleasant.”
“In the climatic refuges, visitors will be able to benefit from climate-controlled environments, potable water and resting areas, among other amenities,” he explained.
The Stay Cool certification, under the Stay Cool Climatic Refuges program promoted by Turismo de Portugal, already covers 18 locations in the Alentejo, more precisely seven locations in Almodôvar, another seven in Cuba, two in Mourão, one in Arronches and another in Castelo de Vide, it specified.
Under the Grow with Tourism Program, Turismo de Portugal launched at the beginning of the month the Specific Call for Proposals for the Stay Cool Climatic Refuges Network — “Stay Cool.”
“With a budget of one million euros, the program aims to support the creation and qualification of climatic refuges across the national territory,” recalled the regional tourism authority.
The funding is destined for municipal councils and parish councils, which can submit applications individually or jointly.
The support, he alluded, takes the form of a “non-reimbursable incentive” and can cover up to 80% of eligible expenses, up to a maximum of 75 thousand euros per application.
Cited in the statement, the president of Turismo do Alentejo e Ribatejo, José Santos, considered that “this program is very important” for the territory, “especially for the interior areas.”
“We are quite committed to its dissemination across the region,” the official underscored, adding that the ERT is, in collaboration with Turismo de Portugal, “in permanent contact with the municipalities, helping them prepare applications and submit the sites proposed as climatic refuges on the platform.”
José Santos also stressed that, “through the Turismo de Portugal support line, it will be possible, for example, to finance the creation of shaded urban areas, green spaces, improve urban furniture and install sprinklers.”
