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A LETTER has been sent to the President
of the Republic, Jorge Sampaio, by the Associação dos
Hotéis e Empreendimentos Turísticos do Algarve (AHETA),
the Algarve hotels and resorts association, calling his attention to
the problems that are affecting tourism in the region. The letter is
timely, since the presidential theme, which runs until the end of
this week, is ‘Tourism’.
Jorge Sampaio has been criticised for
only visiting the borough of Vila do Bispo during the ‘Presidência
Temática sobre Turismo’, with AHETA pointing out that the
tourism of the region is the most important for the country’s
economy, representing the greatest potential for growth, but which is
facing many problems.
The association highlights the fact that
there is a culture of ignorance with regard to the dynamics of the
tourism industry in the Algarve, in terms of public opinion,
political will and at an administrative level. Also, AHETA believes
there is incapacity in finding solutions and solving problems. This
is particularly true, they believe, in what concerns the renovation
of tourist sites in town centres and the structuring of resort
offers.
AHETA wants the President to realise the need for a
greater overall effort, from government and administrative sectors to
business owners and civil society, so that the tourism industry can
evolve, become more innovative and consolidate its position in the
tourism market both nationally and internationally.
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