ALGARVE SITUATION REPORT WEDNESDAY 11 MAY 2022
Hotel occupancy in the Algarve in April increased compared to 2021
Hotel occupancy in the Algarve in April increased compared to 2021, but still remained below the value recorded in 2019, the reference year for the sector as the impact of the pandemic has not yet been verified. In a statement, the Association of Hotels and Tourist Enterprises of the Algarve (AHETA) states that, in relation to 2019, the average global occupancy rate per room was 60.4%, 7.3% less than the value recorded in 2019. Compared to 2021, the average occupancy in April rose 650%, adds AHETA, specifying that the sales value increased by 775% compared to the same month last year and 5% compared to April 2019. AHETA notes, however, that sales made through online platforms “do not include the payment of the respective commissions, which influences the year-on-year increase in sales volume and, therefore, the prices charged”. The British and Irish markets were the ones that showed the biggest increases compared to April 2019. The biggest drops were those of the national and German markets, concludes the note.
Volunteers removed 4 tons of debris from Algarve beaches.
About four tons of debris were removed from 10 beaches and seabeds in the Algarve under the “Praia Limpa” operation, which took place on Sunday in five municipalities in the region. The fourth edition of the initiative, promoted by an oceanographic park in partnership with several local entities, made it possible to remove around four tons of glass, paper, plastic, grating, old fishing gear and undifferentiated waste.
In a statement, Zoomarine said that approximately three tons were removed from the seabed in the port of Culatra Island, in an operation coordinated by the Portuguese Navy and the National Maritime Authority. “Naturally, much remains to be done, however, the growth of this movement encourages us to continue and reinforce, year after year, this environmental responsibility initiative”, The initiative, which lasted about two hours, took place on land and at sea on beaches in the municipalities of Silves, Albufeira, Lagoa, Loulé and Faro, involving dozens of volunteers.
In addition to Zoomarine and the five municipalities, Algar, the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), the Institute for Nature and Forest Conservation (ICNF), the Portuguese Institute for Youth and Sports (IPDJ), the Navy Portuguesa, Turismo do Algarve, Centro Europe Direct Algarve, Águas do Algarve and three private partners.
Started in 2017, in conjunction with the “Montanha Verde” operation, the “Praia Limpa” operation is part of the environmental responsibility initiative “Together we protect” (in Portuguese, “Juntos Protegemos”).
The next planned action is the “Green Mountain 2022” operation, on November 6th and 7th. Under the initiative, 42,000 trees will be offered to plant in eight municipalities in the Algarve.
ALBUFEIRA BATHING SEASON STARTS ON 13 MAY
Bathing season 2022 starts this Friday in the municipality With about 30 kilometres of coastline, the municipality of Albufeira has some of the most beautiful beaches.
The 2022 bathing season starts in Albufeira next Friday, May 13th, with a program that welcomes beach lovers. Praia dos Pescadores is the stage for the ceremony that starts at 10:00 and has a program with several activities. This year, the Blue Flag Association of Europe awarded 26 awards to Albufeira, that is, to all the beaches in the county and to the Albufeira Marina.
The awarding of the awards complies with several demanding criteria, namely factors such as cleanliness, accessibility or water quality. The actions begin on the opening day of the bathing season with “Health and Safety at the Beach”, an awareness-raising action on health and safety care to be taken on the beach. Topics such as the collapse of cliffs, sun exposure, safety rules and waste on the sand are the focus of the training, which starts at 10:15 am, on the sands of Praia dos Pescadores.
During the morning there will also be a simulation of drowning and rescue of bathers, using the resources of the Maritime Authority, the Association of Lifeguards of Albufeira, the Institute for Rescue and the Marine Police. At the same time, several vehicles used by the municipality to clean beaches through waste collection will be on display on the beach.
OVER 1000 UKRAINIAN REFUGEES HAVE SOUGHT PROTECTION FROM ALBUFEIRA MUNICIPALITY.
Whilst Portugal has granted 35,778 requests for temporary protection to people who fled the Ukrainian war up to this Monday, More than a thousand Ukrainian refugees have already asked the Albufeira municipality for protection The municipality of Albufeira is one of the municipalities with the most requests for temporary protection granted to Ukrainian refugees, having received 1072 so far, according to the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF).
Portugal has until this Monday granted 35,778 requests for temporary protection to people who fled the war in Ukraine, of which more than 33% were minors. In a report published on requests for temporary protection granted to citizens who fled the Ukrainian war that began on February 24, the SEF states that the municipalities with the highest number of refugees are Lisbon (5,145), Cascais (2,291), Sintra (1,339), Porto (1,223) and Albufeira (1,072).
Of the 35,778 requests for temporary protections, 23,844 were granted to women and 11,934 to men, according to the security service. The SEF also reports that it issued 31,533 certificates granting residence permits under the temporary protection regime.
This certificate, issued after the National Health Service, Social Security and Tax Authority have assigned the respective numbers, is necessary for refugees to start working and access support.
During the process of allocating these numbers, citizens can consult the numbers that, in the meantime, are being allocated, in their reserved area of the digital platform https://sefforukraine.sef.pt.
The SEF also adds that requests for temporary protection were authorised for 12,023 minors, representing 33.6% of the total. The SEF also reports that it communicated to the Public Prosecutor’s Office the situation of 629 Ukrainian minors who arrived in Portugal without their parents or legal representatives, cases in which it is considered that there is no “current or imminent danger”. The SEF also communicated to the Commission for the Protection of Children and Youth (CPCJ) the situation of 15 minors who arrived in Portugal unaccompanied, but with someone other than their parents or a proven legal representative, representing these cases “current or imminent danger”.
The request for temporary protection to Portugal can be made through that online platform created by the SEF, available in three languages, with adults not having to resort to the counters of this security service. However, in the case of minors, it is mandatory to go to a Foreigners and Borders Service desk to confirm identity and affiliation.
SUPERMARKET CHAIN TO DONATE 85,000 EUROS TO CULTURAL SOCIETY OF OLHAO.
Mission Continente will deliver a donation of 85,000 thousand euros, an amount raised within the scope of the Christmas 2021 campaign, to ACASO – Associação Cultural e de Apoio Social de Olhão, on 11 May, Wednesday, at 10:00 am, at association headquarters.
The event will be attended by the president of the ACASO Board, António Francisco Ventura Pina, the project coordinator, Isadora Barbosa and the Continente Bom Dia de Olhão store director, Susete Pio.
The donation from Missão Continente aims to update the project created by ACASO in 2012 and which includes home visits to elderly people who suffer from isolation and/or need closer monitoring, through the intervention of association employees and a network of volunteers. and partnerships. Activities can involve reading books, talking about various topics or taking supermarket and pharmacy purchases to the beneficiary’s homes.
The “Lights with Presence” campaign by Missão Continente, which ran from November 20, 2021 to January 6, 2022, raised a total of one million and 200 thousand euros, which were totally donated to 11 national institutions dedicated to monitoring citizens in or at risk of social isolation and loneliness.
ANIMAL RESCUE ALGARVE ENDS RESCUES IN UKRAINE.
The Association entered Ukraine to help people and animals. More than a month ago, Animal Rescue Algarve (ARA), an animal shelter located in the municipality of Loulé, received a substantial amount of requests for assistance in the extreme situations resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The requests came from former international volunteers from the Workaway platform (especially from German and Polish citizens) – an international database that awarded ARA for the excellence of its work. Recognizing “the immense love and support” shown by those volunteers, the Association committed to sending a team to help with emergencies of a humanitarian or animal nature, felt on the ground, whether in Polish or Ukrainian territory.
As such, four volunteers (two Portuguese and two Polish) left Loulé with a van full of donations with the mission of helping those who needed it most. Entering Ukraine When it comes to animals, there are increasing reports associated with the extreme neglect and abuse taking place within Ukraine’s borders. “On the border with Poland there is a worrying growing number of unaccompanied animals, trapped for bureaucratic reasons, where they stay without leaving their cages, without the minimum hygiene and health care”, reveals ARA. Adding to the complexity of the problem, “there is a very limited number of people allowed to enter Ukraine through Poland, that is, the place where the most help is needed is the same place where the help does not arrive”.
The Loulé Association was also involved in organising, in partnership with other NGOs, the transport of cats to a shelter in Northern Portugal, as well as in Florida (United States of America). Donations During a crisis that has affected thousands of people and animals, the distribution of essentials and other donations will always be central to any rescue and volunteer efforts. With that in mind, during its month-long mission, ARA acquired and distributed medicines for people and animals, hygiene products, harnesses, animal transport crates, food and clothing.
Volunteering ARA had teams of volunteers deployed at the ‘Tesco’ refugee centre, as well as at the ‘Galeria Krakowska’, where volunteers were needed to organise donations, drive people and provide medical support. On the animal front, the crisis resulting from the war has led “to an extreme need for immediate response spaces”. With that in mind, the Pegasus Foundation acquired warehouses where the ARA team was central in organising donations, as well as preparing specific areas for the incoming animals.
ARA also contributed to the administration of medicines to weakened animals, animal walks and socialisation, transport, acquisition and distribution of donations, 24-hour reception and the facilitation of temporary shelter for animals belonging to Ukrainian refugees. About ARA ARA is a charitable association whose main objective is to collect, rehabilitate and rehome dogs and cats.
This institution was founded in 2017 by an English entrepreneur residing in the Algarve who financed the total cost of the project and has also financed all operating costs since its creation. The ARA administration consists of twelve individuals, all of whom are volunteers.
PORTIMÃO: UNEXPLAINED EXPLOSION THROWS MAN FROM SIXTH FLOOR APARTMENT
Authorities are investigating the explosion that took place at 4:30 yesterday afternoon, which projected the man from the sixth floor apartment, killing him. The explosion took place at an apartment building on Rua Drummond de Andrade, in Portimão. The victim’s burned body was found lifeless on the street. According to Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manhã, “a PSP team of specialists in the inactivation of explosive devices is carrying out checks on the apartment”.
A police source has said that the situation at this point seems “very suspicious”, with indications that the explosion was not caused by gas, but with accidental or intentional detonation of an artisanal device, adding that “due to these suspicions, an explosive device inactivation team was deployed, which is carrying out an inspection of the property to verify that it is safe for the criminal investigation team to enter”.
ALGARVE COVID SITUATION AS OF 4 MAY 2022.
The 7 day Incidence rate for the Algarve stands at 682 per 100,000 over the 7 day period. A rise of 21% on the previous week.
The Rt Rate is now 0.95 compared to 0.91 the previous week. Whilst cases are increasing the number of deaths and those entering hospitals is remaining steady.