Festive lights won’t be shining so brightly this Christmas along most shopping streets in the Algarve due to council budget cuts.
As a result of the economic crisis and outstanding debts, Câmaras in the region have limited expenditure on Christmas lighting in public areas.
Retailers, hit hard by dwindling consumer spending, have already expressed their concern over the lack of council support for local commerce.
João Rosado, president of the Algarve retailers association ACRAL, has already confirmed the association won’t be entering into agreements with suppliers of Christmas lighting as some Câmaras have yet to pay for the services provided in 2009 and 2010.
