Algarve Situation report Wednesday 26^th May 2021

 

Covid-19: President of AHETA says tourism demand is far from satisfactory.

British tourist bookings for hotels in the Algarve have increased “above expectations”, but the numbers are far from “satisfactory” for the region, the President of the sector’s largest regional association told Lusa today.

“There is a very positive demand from the British market in the Algarve, even above expectations, but we cannot go overboard due to the fact that there is one or another hotel with high occupancy levels,” the president of the Association of Hotels and Enterprises told Lusa. Algarve Tourist Attractions (AHETA).

According to the director, “the scale of the climb is not yet known and requires careful analysis”, as there are “many units and developments still closed in the Algarve and only reopening in June”, so it will only be possible to know at the end of this month ” the real impact of demand on the units that are working.”

According to Elidérico Viegas, tourist demand “grew gradually and progressively, as soon as it was known that Portugal would be included in the ‘green list’ of safe destinations that exempts citizens from quarantining on their return to the United Kingdom, which happened from 17 May.

However, for the leader of AHETA, the numbers “very satisfactory that we have been talking about in the last few days correspond to one or the other unit and not to the average of the Algarve”, creating even “some disappointment in the entrepreneurs who are not seen in these results”.

There is a whole machine that has been idle for a year and a half and needs to be retrofitted, because it is not enough to put it to work at cruising speed. It is a gradual process and it will take some time for it to work in full”, recalled the person in charge.

The full functioning of the hotel units is also, according to the leader, “dependent on the stability of the markets that emit tourists, mainly the British and the national market, which may be affected by a possible setback caused by the pandemic” of Covid-19.

Tavira beaches open bathing season with “gold” quality.

The four beaches in the municipality of Tavira (Barril, Cabanas, Ilha de Tavira and Terra Estreita) were distinguished, once again, with the classification of “beaches with gold quality” by Quercus – National Association for Nature Conservation.

Tavira was thus recognized, along with 391 beaches, of which 329 are coastal, 51 inland and 11 transition. The purpose of this award is to highlight the beaches that, for five consecutive years (2016-2020), have bathing water of excellent quality.

The assessment, carried out by Quercus, results from the analysis carried out in accordance with the Bathing Water Directive.

As in the past year, the Câmara de Tavira sends the message that Quercus reinforces the need for bathers to comply with the sanitary rules defined by the Directorate-General for Health, when attending bathing areas. In this context, it is requested that crowds of people are avoided when accessing the beaches and the sand. It also appeals to the civic fulfilment of those who frequent the beaches, namely, “with regard to the correct disposal of disposable masks, which must be placed in trash bins and never abandoned in the natural environment”, he concludes.

Rural Fire at the entrance to Faro.

A fire has already been overcome in an area “with debris and pasture”, at the entrance to the city of Faro, which broke out this Sunday, around 6 pm.

Although it was quickly overwhelmed and did not cause “any damage to structures or victims”, according to the Faro District Relief Operations Command (CDOS) confirmed, the column of black smoke was visible from a long distance.

The quick response was made by the Sapadores de Faro Firefighters, the Faro Volunteers – Cruz Lusa and the Olhão Firefighters, who, with the help of an aerial means, quickly controlled the flames.

In addition to the helicopter, 29 operational fire supporters, supported by 9 vehicles, were involved in fighting the fire.