The RTA - Região de Turismo do Algarve (Algarve Tourist Board) presented on Saturday 3rd June, in the eastern Algarve, their preview for the summer of 2006. Following a meeting with journalists in Alcoutim, where the local tourism post was re-inaugurated, the Summer Festival, brought together the Algarvian touristic sector in the Bubibar, in Tavira.

After 2005, the year in which the Algarve presented clear signs of improvement in its touristic performance, Hélder Martins, President of the RTA, divulged to the journalists that a growth in the order of 3,5 to 4,5 percentage points is expected for the summer of 2006, maintaining the trend of positive evolution in the current year. In 2005, the Algarve was, besides, the only Portuguese touristic region to present positive annual totals. The occupations increased 4,5%, the number of guests represented 8% more than in 2004 and the average income registered a growth of 7,2%. In total, the Algarve represented, in the last year, 39% of the national touristic occupations. It is emphasised, however, that according to the President of the ETA, of the registered occupations, it is estimated that only 9,7% took place in classified hotel establishments. If to the 114,000 beds registered in the Algarve is added the approximately 200,000 to 300,000 that it is estimated exist as non-classified accommodation, then the number of occupied nights could be well above 13,855,595 registered in the hotel establishments.

In terms of issuing markets, the United Kingdom, with 771,858 nights, continues to be the principal touristic market of the Algarve, followed by the Portuguese (306,847), German (266,532), Dutch (260,168) and, in fifth place, the Canadians (103,922). The Dutch market is that which registers the highest increase in 2006, of around 24%.

Relative to the traffic in the airport of Faro, between January and April 2006, an increase of 7,8% in the number of passengers was registered and 11,8% in the movement of commercial airlines, against the same period in the last year. EasyJet is the principal aerial operator for the south of the country. For the beginning of October, new routes between Faro and some European cities are expected.

In terms of cruise tourism, the Port of Portimão represented already, in 2005, 6,6% of the total national movement, expecting that the number of passengers to disembark in the Algarve will increase again in the current year. In golf, apart from the distinction of the best international destination, the sector has already registered this year an increase of 6% in the number of rounds played between January and April, against the same period of the last year.

In addition to the growth trend of the Algarve as a touristic destination, Hélder Martins further emphasised the requalification of the region, this year with another seven Blue Flags, 59 in total, and with the beaches of Albufeira and Vila do Bispo at the top of the distinction in terms of quality of the swimming waters.

Algarve full of energy to attract and receive tourists

To receive the many tourists that are expected this year in the Algarve, the RTA and the Tourism Association of the Algarve (ATA) have prepared a series of new promotional materials, under the slogan "Algarve, fill yourself with energy". Amongst the new publicity supports is an accommodation guide, a brochure about "Routes and Roads of the Algarve", which proposes various journeys throughout the region, and another seven leaflets, each one of them focusing on one of the principal attractions of the Algarve: sun and beach, nature, sport, culture, animation, business and golf.

Some examples of these materias will be included in the million or so publicity bags which will be distributed in the Duty Free shops of 12 German airports during the World Cup, as part of the various promotional activities that the ATA is carrying out this year in Germany. Of the nearly three million euros destined to the external promotion of the Algarve, 690 thousand euros will go directly to the German market, trying to capture once more the market that has passed over the Algarve in recent years, and 500 thousand is destined for the United Kingdom.

The rest of the publicity cake is divided into campaigns which are also already running in Spain, France, Italy, Holland, Russia, Norway and Denmark.

In addition to these materials, the entities responsible for the promotion of the region have conceived, for the first time, a Sales Manual, aimed at tour operators and travel agents, both Portuguese and foreign.

Another recent bet is the renovation of the regional tourism offices, as according to Hélder Martins, these are one of the principal business cards of the Algarve.

In Alcoutim, the local tourism office was re-inaugurated, the first in the whole of the region, with a new exterior image and innovative concept: the shop. In addition to obtaining information, tourists can now acquire typical handicrafts from the region. Dolls of Martinlongo, articles in cork from São Brás or liqueuers from Loulé are just some of the products which can be purchased in the tourism posts of the Algarve. The idea is to expand the concept to the 22 existing posts in the Algarve. The posts of Monte Gordo, Praia da Rocha and Silves will follow in terms of remodelling which, in its first phase, will cover ten tourism posts.

In addition to the sales, the tourism posts of the Algarve will become equipped with a computer platform of georeferentiation, which will allow the staff of the space to inform the visitors about hotels, restaurants, cultural spaces or shows, amongst other details available. As well as simple information, hotel reservations can be made or tickets purchased for shows, touristic attractions or cultural spaces. Thus, for example, in Alcoutim it will be possible to book an hotel in Aljezur, and vice-versa. The computer system is also available for all the tourists who wish to book their holidays on the Internet, on the site of visitalgarve.

Another complement to this system should be presented soon by Hélder Martins. It is the "Cartão Algarve" (Algarve Card), which allows tourists to have access to journeys, hotels, museums or shows acquired in the tourism posts of the Algarve. The visitors pay on the act of purchasing the card, that which they intend visiting, after which they simply present the document in the selected places, facilitating their entrance to the same.

Also in the area of new technologies, highlighted are the new institutional sites of the RTA (at www.rtalgarve.pt) and of the ATA (at www.atalgarve.pt), available since last week, with information about the two entities.

In 2007, "Algarve Invites" Lisbon and Porto

For the year of 2007, the RTA foresees the realisation of the fair "Algarve Convida" (Algarve Invites), in Lisbon and also, for the first time, in Porto.

The edition in the capital will take place in March, for which the location is currently being studied. The success of the 2006 edition justifies the investment in a larger space, possibly the FIL in the Parque das Nações, or even the Pavilhão Atlântico.

Another news item for 2007 will be the existence of new areas, destined for real estate and residential tourism, and another where some of the more emblematic companies of the region will be represented, from diverse sectors in a true campaign of divulgence of the region in the country.

source: Região Sul