Portugal Strengthens Tourism Competitiveness with New Support Program Worth 30 Million Euros

Portugal has just given a new boost to the tourism sector with the launch of the "Grow with Tourism" Programme, a strategic initiative aimed at fostering the sustainable development of territories.

With a financial envelope of 30 million euros, this support line is intended to strengthen the competitiveness of national tourism, fostering projects that focus on qualification, innovation, and environmental and social sustainability. The creation of this programme falls within the national tourism development plan and is regulated by Ordinance No. 50/2025/1, recently published in the Diário da República, and revokes the +Interior Tourism Line.

According to Turismo de Portugal, this programme seeks not only to consolidate the country's position as a global reference in sustainable tourism but also to diversify the tourism offer and decentralise investment, driving growth in low-density regions.

What is the "Grow with Tourism" Programme?

The "Grow with Tourism" programme was created with the main objective of fostering innovative and sustainable projects that qualify tourism in Portugal.  It revokes the +Interior Tourism Line and extends its reach to the entire national territory, without prejudice to positive discrimination for projects in low-density territories.

The initiative comes in response to the "Accelerate the Economy" Agenda, reinforcing the importance of tourism for territorial cohesion and socio-economic development. The programme offers attractive conditions for boosting projects that promote smart territory management, social innovation, and the valorisation of cultural and natural assets.

Who can apply?

Various public and private entities can apply to the "Grow with Tourism" programme, provided their projects are aligned with the programme's objectives. Beneficiary entities include:

• Public entities;
• Private non-profit entities;
• Private institutions of social solidarity or equivalent non-profit entities with more than three years of activity;
• Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

» Consult the requirements for each of the beneficiaries here »

Which projects are eligible?

Projects eligible for funding must contribute to the qualification and sustainable development of tourism in Portugal. Among the main support axes are:

• Reinforcement of tourism competitiveness: Projects that add value to territories through the valorisation and regeneration of their resources, qualification of their assets and agents, reduction of their vulnerability to climate change impacts, and increase in physical and communicational accessibility of the offer;
• Smart territory management: Development of technologies for monitoring tourist flows, improving mobility, and integrating services, ensuring efficient management of available assets and resources.
• Social innovation in tourism: Projects promoting more sustainable social development models, fostering inclusion, social cohesion, and the involvement of local communities. 

What are the eligible expenses?

Eligible expenses under the Grow with Tourism Programme include investments related to:

• Studies, projects, and technical assistance, as well as external supervision;
• Construction and adaptation works;
• Acquisition of goods and equipment, software, and IT equipment;
• Development of technological systems and platforms;
• Interventions for tourism accessibility and inclusion;
• Capacity building and qualification of human resources.

» Consult all eligible expenses here »

Programme Financing Rates

The "Grow with Tourism" programme has an initial budget of 30 million euros, divided between 15 million euros in non-repayable grants and 15 million euros in repayable financing. The base financing rate corresponds to 60% of eligible expenses, which can be increased by +20% for projects in low-density territories and +10% for projects integrated into Portugal 2030 collective efficiency strategies.

The financial support limits vary depending on the beneficiary type. Public and private non-profit entities can benefit from non-repayable support up to 400,000 euros, while companies (SMEs) can obtain up to 200,000 euros. If the project exceeds these amounts, the additional amount may be granted in the form of repayable financing, up to a maximum of 1 million euros, with a repayment period of seven years, including a two-year grace period.

 How to apply my project to the “Grow with Tourism” Programme?

A tourism project is complex and requires compliance with several requirements to successfully ensure the viability and success of the application. From Yunit's experience, these are the three steps to prepare a successful tourism project:

1. Survey of project requirements and Identification of available funding sources;
2. Preparation of the Business Plan and Application;
3. Specialised follow-up at all stages of the project;

Yunit Consulting: Together, let's make the Leap

Last update: 4 March 2025