The Algarve Tourism Board yesterday launched an essential tool in promoting another niche market, this time to wine lovers. The Algarve Wine Route is in fact four wine tourism itineraries taking in seven wineries.
The President of the Algarve Tourism Board said the agency has been working with the Algarve Wine Commission to get the plan off the ground and the engagement of the wine producers in Lagos, Portimão, Lagoa and Albufeira has amde the new routes possible.
"In the past four years the Algarve's wine has improved substantially, and the wineries involved have made sure they are ready to receive visitors with some offering associated accommodation," said Silva who added that wine tourism in the Algarve has everything going for it, "the region already has a well defined product, which is valued and is of a very good quality."
Silva, in full flow, said that the launch of these first four routes will shortly be followed by two more, in Loulé and Tavira.
Silva did mention a degree of inertia and unwillingness that had been displayed by the wine producers which now have organised themselves to show that the Algarve can be known for quality wines.
"In the past producers and wineries have lost out, also the region has had no opportunity to identify this product as a niche tourism market."
