By INÊS LOPES [email protected]
Allgarve may have come to an end but the Algarve is very much alive if entertainment is what you are looking for. This is the message the Algarve Tourism Board is trying to convey as it launches a new programme of events for the region without the financial backing of the government.
The Algarve Com Eventos (Algarve With Events) initiative was announced this week and includes nearly 70 events taking place across the Algarve until December, compiled into a brochure in Portuguese and English to be distributed at various high footfall locations.
Distribution of the brochure, which is a “one-stop-shop” for leisure events in the Algarve, will begin this month with the aim of providing holidaymakers and residents with plenty of choice when it comes to deciding where to go and what to do in the region, “particularly at night-time”.
Listings were compiled from other events programmes from various sources such as municipal câmaras and other regional entities such as the race track.
Emotion, fun, flavours, tradition and sounds are the words that sum up this programme, which includes such events as the Portugal Masters (October 11 to 14), the Le Mans Series (November 2 to 4), Fatacil (August 17 to 26), Olhão Seafood Festival (August 8 to 12), the Silves and Castro Marim Medieval festivals (July 28 to August 5 and August 23 to 26 respectively) and concerts by Pablo Alborán (VRSA on July 20), Mazira (VRSA on July 28), Ivete Sangalo (Portimão on July 28) and Carminho (VRSA on August 11).
Other upcoming events listed are the concert ‘Music in the Monuments’ at São Sebastião Fortress, Castro Marim, this Sunday at 6pm, Festival Med in Loulé from June 28 to 30, and the FIA GT1 World Championship at the race track from July 6 to 8.
António Pina, president of the Algarve Tourism Board, said: “These events are proof that the Algarve is very much alive and continues to have a strong cultural and sporting calendar, now even better structured.
“It shows that the Algarve can provide a top quality programme of events, even without the Allgarve millions. The region naturally lends itself to a fun, entertaining experience.”
Around 40,000 copies of the pocket-sized guide will be made available to tourists and residents through tourism offices, hotels, hire car companies and golf courses in the region. It can also be downloaded for free on the Algarve promotional website www.visitalgarve.pt as from the end of this month.
The Algarve Com Eventos brochure, which also includes a map of the region, is sponsored by ANA Aeroportos de Portugal and will also be distributed to external markets through the Algarve Tourism Association.
The Allgarve programme, which was an initiative by the Ministry of Economy to help promote events in the region, was cancelled this year by the government.
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