The Algarve Hotels and Resorts Association (AHETA) has accused the company responsible for Portugal’s highways, BRISA, of “providing a bad service” to users of the A2 (Lisbon-Algarve) road. AHETA claims the problem lies with the toll at Paderne, where only one toll-collector is ever working, even in the summer, when people can be made to wait for around 15 minutes.
AHETA has also criticised BRISA for imposing a higher cost at that toll than others throughout Portugal. Tourists visiting from all over Europe expect the high level of service that they are accustomed to in their own countries and, according to AHETA, this lack of support may result in a decline in tourism.
AHETA also denounced BRISA for its level of customer service, where a complaint can only be officially lodged in the presence of the toll manager. Furthermore, there is no complaints book available for disgruntled drivers to voice their dissatisfaction with the service.
Apparently, AHETA believes that BRISA is attempting to obtain profits “with little regard for the good image of the largest tourist region in Portugal”.
