(TAN): Portugal is deliberating over plans to offer British tourists healthcare at the same cost as Portuguese citizens in a bid to keep the inflow of visitors from the United Kingdom intact, reports said.
Portugal’s tourism minister, Rita Marques, reportedly said they were working on unilateral plans to offer health cover to British visitors under the European Union’s reciprocal system, European health insurance card (Ehic), if there is no deal struck this year.
“The Portuguese and the UK are the oldest allies in the world and no matter what happens the Portuguese will stand by the British. The British traveller is very important to us. We are looking to guarantee this health cover next year. We are currently looking at how often it is used and if it is making a positive impact. We are in the process of testing this and the other ideas right now,” she was quoted by The Guardian as saying.
According to reports, the government could take this step to lessen disruption that Brexit could cost Portuguese economy.
“If these are issues that are important to the British traveller, then we have to go for it. We are trying to minimise the disruption to British tourism,” Marques added.
The south European country, looking to boost tourism post Brexit, is drawing up other plans such as offering special passport lanes for Britons, recognising United Kingdom driving licences and entry for pets, as per reports.
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The United Kingdom accounts for nearly 2 million visitors to Portugal every year, who contribute EUR 3 billion (USD 3.25 billion approximately) or about 1.5% of the Portuguese economy, reports said.
Of these, around 250,000 British tourists make medical care claims using the Ehic system annually – the bloc’s citizens are entitled to free or cheaper medical cover while on holiday in the European Union and the European Economic Area, which will no longer be applicable once the United Kingdom leaves the European Union at the end of this year, as per reports.
