The first biennial event for ‘Nature Tourism in the Algarve’ is taking place in Aljezur on 26, 27 and 28 September, organised by the Associação Vicentina, Associação In Loco and Terras do Baixo Guadiana, co-funded by ProDer and the Associação Vicentina.
Two policy makers have headed south to open the event: the Minister for Regional Development, Poiares Maduro and the Secretary of State for Planning and Nature Conservation, Miguel de Castro Neto.
According to the organisers, BTN 2014 (Bienal de Turismo de Natureza '14) will run a number of seminars and presentations by national and international speakers, a wide range of environmental education activities and will celebrate World Tourism Day on September 27 with two walks, one organized by Rota Vicentina and the other by Almargem on part of the Via Algarviana.
Over 100 exhibitors, mostly from the Algarve and relating to nature tourism and associated products, will try and fill the Multipurpose Space in Aljezur.
Opening speeches included, "For many years the Algarve has concentrated its promotional efforts on sun and sea tourism products, causing a concentration of business along a small coastal strip which is reducing year after year. In the ’80s and ‘90s the economy was still smiling at this type of tourism. Today with a profound change in the tourism economic model where online and low cost dictate the rules, and competition from other destinations multiply, one realises that seasonality and the lack of alternative tourism products may create short-term problems and accentuate socioeconomic problems in the region.
"It is also in the ‘80s and ‘90s that we saw the depopulation of nearly 70% of the territory of the Algarve, as well as the decline of traditional industries, fishing, salt, agriculture and canning.
"The strong institutional presence at the Biennial of Nature Tourism ‘14 could bring new life and a new interest in rediscovering the low density areas of the Algarve, a territory now visibly in decline, but with specific assets that can be streamlined and translated into economic activity.
"New uses for land and sea give rise to tourism companies, ranging from hiking to bird watching, biking, surfing and diving. The fishermen's paths are now transformed into hiking trails. The villages and old farms have been made into lodgings of great charm. The salt flats are recovered and we invent new uses for even the traditional products. Cork is made into bags and umbrellas, and beeswax now is used for surfboards."
The organisers of the event want to bring "a new vision for these areas that is positive and is focused on the opportunities available. Many of the 100 exhibitors at BTN '14 are examples of this vision, which in Europe has a tourism market of more than 20 million potential customers.
These are customers who choose the off-season to take holidays and are looking for regions where nature and the authenticity of the destination are key purchase factors."
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