In a bid to attract tourists from across the border to the region, Albufeira’s promotional agency launched two radio campaigns in the Spanish regions of Andalucía and Extremadura.
The campaigns, to highlight “the best Albufeira council has to offer tourists”, consisted of 162 radio spots being aired just before Easter week on the Cadena Cope and Cadena Dial radio stations and culminated with two live broadcasts with Albufeira Mayor, one held at O Caixote restaurant in Olhos de Água and the other at Hotel Porto Bay at Falésia beach.
Subjects covered during the live radio shows included the various tourist products the council has to offer, such as its beaches, entertainment, nightlife and gastronomy, but also the contentious tolls and accessibility issues.
Albufeira Mayor Desidério Silva was interviewed by Cadena Cope journalist José Manuel Gordillo about the recent TripAdvisor ranking which placed Albufeira among the top 10 Best Beach Destinations of Europe.
Desidério Silva said: “It’s not enough to have beaches. We have to work hard to create and manage appealing offers around the ‘sun and sea’ tourist product.
“But it is a fact that the council’s beaches are at the base of our success as a holiday destination par excellence.”
Desidério Silva added that in 1987 two beaches were flying the Blue Flag, in 1997 14 and today 23 beaches proudly boasted the quality award.
Other interviewees included Rui Justo, Vice-President of APAL and director of Balaia Golf Village, and António Águas, manager of A Varanda Restaurant.
APAL has prioritised the national and Spanish markets in recent promotional campaigns, however, it says, the Scandinavian and Canadian markets, as well as the traditional British, Dutch and German markets continued to be high on its agenda.
