More flights between Natal and Lisbon – TAP announces extra flights in a permanent basis.
Good news for travellers! Businessmen and the State government of Rio Grande do Norte celebrate the return of flights on the Natal – Lisbon – Natal route, with the first taking place on the 3rd of November and operated by TAP Air Portugal. The trips are not just for the next peak tourist season, but permanent, with a frequency of three flights a week.
Over the years 2020 and 2021, the State government held meetings with TAP throughout to ensure that Natal was on the first routes as soon as the resumption of activities took place in a concrete manner. The most recent meeting between Governor Fátima Bezerra (PT) and the airline operator took place this Tuesday (26), when the Chief Executive meets, in São Paulo, with the new CEO of TAP, Christine Ourmières-Widene,
Politicians and technicians from the Tourism secretariat continue to work on Natal in Europe. “The current moment was long awaited and planned. During this last week, we were on a road-show (trips to present a location) in the main emitting destinations in Europe, promoting RN as a safe and responsible place”, explained RN’s Tourism Secretary, Aninha Costa.
The president of the Brazilian Association of the Hotel Industry in RN (ABIH-RN), Abdon Gosson, comments that European flights are what was needed for a stronger recovery in the sector, since Brazilian tourists are already arriving frequently in Natal . “The flights are very busy and now the European tourist comes with the euro, an overvalued currency. The expectation that the European will stay at our destination is much higher and the daily expenditure higher than that of Brazilian tourists”, says Gosson.
He adds that the sector’s recovery has been gradual and consistent each month. “The recovery is very good and we hope that in the coming months the occupancy rate will increase even more, just when New Year’s Eve and summer occur to reach the best moment of tourism in our state, logically after having spent almost a year of losses practically daily.
However, those who come to Natal will have to strengthen the budget with stays a little, since, in addition to the increase in demand for beds, the entire country is going through an inflation of costs, which are passed on to the consumer. “Tariff increases are inevitable, not only because of the high demand, but because costs have increased considerably. This increase is justified by the quality of service that hotels offer their guests”, concludes Gosson.
The Portuguese government suspended the flight in the middle of the covid-19 pandemic, when its borders were closed. A government delegation will carry out actions at Aluízio Alves International Airport to receive European tourists.