482 COMPETITION LAW IN TOURISM authorities at the different levels of government. In any event, it should be highlighted that the weight of the tourism sector in the national economy and the country’s reliance on the same provision of services has been advising for due consideration of support in view also of the EU’s benchmark. As regards the tourism industry in Portugal, it is counterproductive to consider the same globally and ignore the complexity of the ecosystem and the diversity of sizes and needs of its players. Sanitary measures (and especially confinement ones) have resulted in a very negative impact on the tourism sector but an uneven one depending on the type of activity and geographical situation. We have assisted to the industry’s ongoing efforts of adaptation to the evolving reality and the pursuance of the aim of meeting the evolving features of demand have shift towards domestic demand constitutes one of the features to be signalled. But assuming that the country will continue with the same degree of dependence concerning this sector, there is still a long way to go and it is key to entail a renewed debate on how to best prepare it for the future in a sustained and sustainable manner. In any event, the last year has proved that many indirect factors for the success of the Portuguese tourism industry depend on the EU’s calls for action and Member States (and third countries) strategic approaches to such a diverse range of policies that comprise both health safety and travel corridors, as well as fiscal incentives to their own national industries, not to speak of massive state aid to given segments of the industry. And this should always be duly considered when reflecting on the competition the Portuguese tourism industry faces and the challenges the same must address so as to thrive.
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