Golf investors continue to prefer the Algarve region, according to the vice-president of the national tourism board, who said there were more than 20 requests for licences for golf courses currently under application, most for the Algarve.
Frederico Costa said at the Portugal Masters tournament in Vilamoura earlier this month that many of the licences will depend on the financial capabilities of the companies and that the majority will be granted. Several of these new courses are planned for the eastern Algarve, especially in the county of Alcoutim, which is preparing to have its first three courses built in the near future.
Also not yet constructed, but under planning, are future golf resorts Verde Lago in Castro Marim, Monte Rei in Vila Real de Santo António and Quinta da Ombria in Loulé.
According to regional environmental association Almargem, there are currently 39 golf courses in the Algarve, some of which are under the final phase of construction. A further 13 are still at the project stage, which means that the region could have more than 50 courses in the next few years.
Fernando Pessoa, president of the regional nature protection league (LPN), said: “The new golf courses should not depend on the financial capacity of companies but on correct land management.”
According to the national tourism board, golf is one of 10 tourist products that are a priority to develop until 2015, generating around 1.8 billion euros of revenue per year.
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