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During a stay in the Algarve to promote the Allgarve summer entertainment programme, Minister for Economy and Innovation Manuel Pinho underlined his interest in attracting tourists of higher quality to the region, rather than en-masse tourism. The type of tourism the Algarve needs is certainly not en-masse tourism, he declared during the opening of the Serralves no Algarve exhibition, in Faros historical Fábrica da Cerveja.
When questioned if the governmens intention was to transform the region into a holiday designation for middle to high-class tourists, he explained, Portugal is a small country, far off the larger centres of Europe. The more discerning tourist brings more money and allow better profit-making for hotels.
Minister Pinho also revealed a number of significant projects about to take shape in the Algarve, over the next two years, and which represent a total investment of 1.4 billion euros.
By 2007 there will be 14 five-star hotels in the region, and 21 by 2010, he confirmed.
He also confirmed that the controversial Allgarve programme would continue for the next three years. It is predicted that these new hotels will create employment for some 6,000 people.
Minister Pinho is adamant about transmitting an image of the Algarve to the exterior that goes beyond sun and sea.
�Sea, sun, golf, culture, congresses. That is the transversal image we want to transmit�, said Mr Pinho.
Despite 2006 being the best year in tourism, the first four months of 2007 presented figures that were superior to those of last year.
He is also highly satisfied with the success of the Allgarve programme, a specially made program of summer entertainment for the Algarve.
One of the programms components, the Carmina Burana opera, has already sold out for the three days of its duration.
Concerning golf, there are presently 34 courses, a further five in construction, and 39 projects presently being evaluated. |
