Portimão Council is encouraging restaurant and café owners to set up outdoor seating areas while any existing terraces can be expanded to ensure “safety conditions are guaranteed”. As a further incentive, businesses will be exempt from paying “terrace tax” until December 31.
The measure was announced on Wednesday (May 6) after unanimous approval by the council. It aims to help businesses affected by the pandemic attract more customers by providing outdoor seating.
Terrace licensing procedures have also been simplified, allowing restaurants and other businesses to “increase their capacity”.
Applications for new terrace licences will be approved only when they do not interfere with “road safety rules, the circulation of pedestrians or other nearby businesses”, says the local authority.
Meantime, the council has already delivered 1,250 “Covid-19 safety kits” among local businesses. Each kit contains a bottle of ethyl alcohol, 12 masks, 12 pairs of gloves, two protective visors and hand sanitizer. Those who have not yet received the kit can request it by calling 808 282 112.
