Berlin, Sept. 12, 2025 (Lusa) - The Portuguese president stated on Friday that, according to initial data, the accident involving the Gloria funicular in Lisbon has had no "negative impact" on tourism.
Speaking to journalists after having lunch at a Portuguese restaurant in Berlin, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said that tourism "was not affected" after the accident at the Elevador da Glória, which caused 16 deaths on 3 September in Lisbon.
‘What we have already gathered from data collected in recent days, both in relation to tourists who were in Portugal and remained in Portugal, and bookings for September, October and the future (...) [is that] there is no sign of negative repercussions," said Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
The country's president considered that this absence of negative signs is due to the fact that tourists have a "clear understanding" that "this was not a situation that resembled anything political or of a violent political nature, as happens in other cases".
"Secondly, because there is a clear understanding that everything that needs to be investigated is being investigated and will be investigated, from a technical point of view and in terms of the political judgements corresponding to the technical assessment," he said.
For Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, "the notion that this is being done exhaustively contributes to this feeling that tourism is not affected".
Asked whether he believes that, in addition to investigating the technical failures that caused the derailment, it is also necessary to determine the political responsibilities of those who made those decisions, the president replied: "First, let's find out exactly what happened from a technical point of view."
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa pointed out that tourism was precisely one of the topics he discussed this morning with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at their meeting at his official residence, Bellevue Palace in Berlin.
The Portuguese president arrived at the palace around about 11:00 (10:00 Lisbon time) and greeted Steinmeier, who was waiting for him on the steps, with a hug - the two heads of state have known each other since they were law professors and both were members of a European teachers' association.
The two presidents listened to the national anthems of Portugal and Germany, played by the German Army band, before reviewing the three branches of the German armed forces.
At the end of this brief welcome ceremony, the two heads of state entered Bellevue Palace, where Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa signed a guest book, took an official photograph and presented Frank-Walter Steinmeier with two gifts: bottles of wine and a silver box with a personal inscription.
They then had a meeting – first alone, and then with their respective entourages – in which, according to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, bilateral relations were discussed, in particular the VW Autoeuropa factory in the Palmela region, south of the river Tagus, as well as the joint project between the port of Sines and the German port of Duisburg.
"We talked about investments that other companies have made in Portugal and then we talked about tourism: how German tourism has grown. He himself was amazed, as he had no idea of the growth and how it has replaced, for example, part of British tourism," he said.
The Portuguese president also pointed out that he discussed with his counterpart the "political, social, economic" and geostrategic challenges currently facing Europe, particularly in Ukraine, and they also talked about Israel, with Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa conveying to Steinmeier the debate that has been taking place in Portugal regarding the recognition of the State of Palestine.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is currently on an official visit to Germany and, this afternoon, after his meeting with Steinmeier, he will attend the Bürgerfest (Citizens' Festival) festival, a citizens' initiative with Portugal as the guest country.
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