PORTUGAL AMIGÁVEL

Portugal é o sétimo país mais amigável do mundo para os turistas, devido à sua hospitalidade e pessoas simpáticas, de acordo com um estudo recente do Fórum Económico Mundial. O estudo, "O Relatório de Competitividade de Viagens e Turismo 2013", avalia 140 economias em todo o mundo e leva em consideração a competitividade destes países sobre viagens e turismo, sendo que o tema escolhido é "A redução de barreiras ao crescimento económico e criação de emprego". Este relatório explora o potencial e influência que as indústrias de viagens e turismo têm sobre a economia do país e também leva em consideração a criação de emprego, o que é essencial para o desenvolvimento de qualquer país. Na lista de 140 países, Portugal está em sétimo lugar (pontuação 6,65, de um máximo de 7 pontos) atrás da Macedónia (4ª posição), Áustria (5ª posição) e Senegal (6ª posição). No topo da lista, os islandeses são aqueles que melhor sabem receber visitantes estrangeiros, seguido por neozelandeses e marroquinos. Quanto a infraestruturas turísticas, Portugal está entre o top 20. Em termos de património cultural o país ocupa a 13ª posição e 20ª posição relativa aos espaços culturais inscritos na lista do Património Mundial da UNESCO. O património natural, Português ocupa a posição 45 no presente estudo. Em suma, o Relatório de Competitividade de Viagens e Turismo do Fórum Económico Mundial avaliou várias questões, incluindo fatores económicos, legais, ambientais e culturais, bem como infraestruturas e do mercado de trabalho do turismo. No geral, os vários indicadores do estudo colocam Portugal em 20º lugar. Portugal é um dos países que tem obtido melhores resultados em termos de preocupações ambientais e também acesso adequado às infraestruturas sanitárias. Além disso, a qualidade das estradas portuguesas é também realçada, assim como o número de médicos por mil habitantes e o tempo necessário para iniciar um negócio. Por Algarve Resident O jornal da comunidade inglesa no Algarve Publicado em 11 de abril de 2013

What Britain could learn from Portugal´s drugs policy.

What Britain could learn from Portugal´s drugs policy. A decade ago Portugal took a radical new approach to illegal drugs by treating users as people with social problems rather than as criminals. Could it work in the UK? Susannah is being treated in the physiotherapy unit of the Centro das Taipas, a vast, pink former mental institution close to Lisbon´s airport, where she is having hot towels pressed on to her lower back. Built during the second world war, the wards of wing 21B are these days committed to the treatment of drug addiction. Susannah is a long-term drug user and is intelligent but troubled. She first smoked cannabis at 13. At 17, she began taking heroin with the father of her children. Now 37, she has been dependent on drugs ? mostly heroin ? for almost two decades. "I lived in Spain for a while," she tells me. "And London for a year, working in the restaurants with a friend. I went there to try to get off drugs but ended up on crack." These days, however, Susannah, who also suffers from a bipolar disorder, is one of the beneficiaries of Europe´s most tolerant drug regime. For in Portugal, where Susannah lives, drugs have not only been decriminalised for almost a decade, but users are treated as though they have a health and social problem. Addicts such as Susannah are helped by the law, not penalised and stigmatised by it. In the midst of the recently resurgent debate in Britain about whether our drug laws are working ? or require a major overhaul ? the experience of Portugal has become a crucial piece of evidence in favour of a radical approach that has confounded the expectations of even its conservative critics, so much so that in the last month British officials have asked their Portuguese counterparts for advice, with the only caveat being that they avoid mentioning the word "decriminalise". It is, perhaps, an unnecessary sensitivity. For the reality is that, despite liberalising how it regards drug possession ? now largely an administrative problem rather than a criminal offence ? Portugal has not become a magnet for drug tourists like Amsterdam, as some had predicted. British officials are not the only ones who have made the pilgrimage to Portugal in recent years ? health specialists, officials and journalists from around the world have all made the journey to see what Portugal is doing right, even as their own countries are still struggling. Nor has it seen its addict population markedly increase. Rather it has stabilised in a nation that, along with the UK and Luxembourg, once had the worst heroin problem in Europe. For Susannah ? as for the many long-term addicts now on methadone replacement and other programmes, and for the country´s health professionals ? the country´s recent social history is divided into what the world of addiction and drug use was like before Law 30 was approved in November 2000, and what it is like now. Before the law, which decriminalised (or depenalised) possession of drugs but stil

The UK benefits available to Britons living in Portugal

Foreign & Commonwealth Office Living in Portugal The UK benefits available to Britons living in Portugal and information on driving regulations in Portugal. Overview If you are a British citizen or British subject with right of abode in the UK, you do not require a visa to enter Portugal. Other British nationals should confirm the current entry requirements with their nearest Portuguese Embassy. A valid British passport must be held for entry to and exit from Portugal. There is no minimum passport validity requirement but you should ensure that your passport is valid for the duration of your visit. This guide sets out essential information for British nationals residing in Portugal, including British and Portuguese pension and benefits entitlements, and vehicle and driving licence laws. Register with Portuguese Immigration Service (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF)) or local Town Hall (Câmara Municipal) Registration Certificate (Certificado de Registo) EU citizens may remain in Portugal for a maximum of 3 months without registering. If you intend to remain in Portugal for more than 3 months, you must apply for a registration certificate from the Portuguese Immigration Service - the Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF) - or Town Hall (Câmara Municipal) in your area of residence. This has to be done within 4 months of arrival in Portugal. This certificate will be valid for 5 years from the date of issue, or for the period of intended residence. For entitlement to local services - i.e. schools, healthcare, and social security - people living in Portugal should register with the Portuguese authorities. How to claim UK state pensions in Portugal The UK basic state pension is payable in Portugal. The UK state pension changed in April 2010. More people now qualify for a full basic state pension. If you live but have not worked in Portugal, you should claim your UK state pension by contacting the International Pension Centre in the UK on telephone: +44 (0)191 218 7777. If you live in, and have worked at some point in Portugal you should normally apply to the Centro Distrital de Segurança Social (CDSS) for both your UK and Portuguese pensions. If you have only ever worked in the UK, you should see our information on applying for a UK state pension. Moving to Portugal once in receipt of a UK state pension If you are moving to Portugal from the UK you should inform the International Pension Centre (IPC) of the changes to your circumstances. This will prevent any problems with your pension payments. UK pension credit is not payable in Portugal. If you decide to move to Portugal permanently you must inform the office that pays your benefits before you leave. Life certificates If you have received a Life Certificate from the UK Department for Work & Pensions it is important that you reply as quickly as possible otherwise your benefit may be stopped. There are four options available to you: 1. Go to