Tourism chiefs are worried that government-proposed budget cuts could devastate the current ‘success’ ongoing in the Algarve.
This year, for instance, the Algarve registered a new high in tourist ‘sleepovers’.
More than three million visitors were logged in one single month.
It was a new high for the sector, but cuts in the funding pipeline could throw a spanner in the works.
In a press release, tourism boss Desidério Silva warned the government plans to reduce income to the sector by 14%.
He explained the Algarve faces fierce competition from other tourist destinations, and without the adequate financing, it will be hard for the region to keep up with the level of promotion that creates jobs and a much-needed boost to the local economy.
He highlighted how August’s figures were “very positive” and exceeded regional tourist authority (RTA) expectations.
In total, the Algarve’s hotels and guest houses received 608,000 visitors in August – representing three million sleepovers and profits to the tune of over €160 million.
A renewed wave of Portuguese tourists had a big influence on these numbers, said Silva. National visitors increased 22% to a total of 1.2 million this year.
“This is very motivating for the RTA, which has been working hard to attract Portuguese and Spanish tourists,” he added.
The Algarve also accounted for 45% (325,000) of all first-time sleepovers in Portugal, the tourism chief highlighted.
Thus a pull on funding could not come at a worse time.
