en.Wedoany.com Reported - With most licenses for maritime tourism operators on the Douro River set to expire in 2027, the Portuguese Port Authority of Douro, Leixões and Viana do Castelo (APDL) has submitted a proposal to the sector for an operational model for managing the navigable waterway. Operators expressed concerns on Monday about the prospect of license expiration.
An official APDL source told Lusa News Agency that the proposal was presented at a meeting held last Thursday (July 30) between the port authority and all operators in the sector. The proposal will proceed in accordance with applicable legal procedures before receiving approval from the competent authorities.
According to the source, the proposed model aims to ensure the continuity of maritime tourism activities on the Douro River, providing stability and predictability for operators and creating conditions for the sector's sustainable development. At the same time, the model seeks to align with the legal framework governing public domain management, ensuring transparency, equal opportunities for operators, and the safeguarding of public interests. APDL stated it will continue to promote dialogue with the sector and remains open to receiving and integrating operator feedback, which may be used to refine the proposal before final approval.
The port authority's response comes after the Douro River Maritime Tourism Activities Association (AAMTD) issued a warning on Monday. The association noted that license expiration poses risks to regional private investment, employment, and the competitiveness of river tourism, while condemning the authorities' "silence" regarding a future solution for the activity. The association stated that despite formal requests submitted since October 2025, the port authorities have not yet communicated any solution to operators.
These licenses, valid for periods ranging from seven to ten years, regulate the use of public water domain areas (such as riverbanks, riverbeds, and docks), which are managed by APDL.
One of the proposals put forward by the association is the extension of license durations. AAMTD suggests that license terms should be proportional to the scale of investment, referencing the 35-year terms implemented on other European navigable waterways and port areas. This timeframe, requested by the sector, is approximately four times the current duration and aligns with the actual amortization cycle of infrastructure. Additionally, the association has made recommendations on priority rights—a right that was revoked after the transposition of European legislation—hoping that priority could consider seniority and actual activity criteria, while establishing a term that "ensures amortization" rather than the currently enforced duration.
