The ADSA official was reacting to the announcement that the night entertainment spaces, closed since March 2020 due to the covid-19 pandemic, can reopen as of October 1st, for customers with a digital certificate or negative test.

“I saw the news with great pleasure, albeit a little late. This should have happened a bit earlier. It's good for my colleagues in the rest of the country, but for us, here in the Algarve, it won't help us much anymore”, said Liberto Mealha.

The leader of the business association argued that the measure comes too late because, as of October 1st, with the end of the tourist peak season, the region will have “older tourism, which does not go out at night, and does not justify keeping the business open”.

Liberto Mealha estimated that around “80% of activities close their doors” during the low tourist season in the Algarve, because “October is already the end of the season” and there are “four months in the Algarve when nothing happens, which is November, December, January and February, with the exception of the end of the year”, in the case of those that open on the night of December 31st to January 1st.

“Anyway, it was great news, in fact, better than expected. The end of all restrictions was fundamental, opening a discotheque without a dance floor or counter service was also meaningless and wouldn't help much”, he considered.

The same source congratulated that “the activity can open from the 1st without restrictions” and agreed with the Government's decision to demand a covid-19 digital certificate at the entrance of night entertainment establishments. Entrance to bars and clubs will also be possible with the presentation of a negative test to covid-19.

“There is a requirement for a digital certificate upon entry and I think it's okay. We have to get used more and more that this certificate is a second passport in our lives and I think that, finally, we are reaching normality”, he added.