‘Algarve Encanta,' a promotion by the Algarve Tourist Board, hits the road again this month in its fourth roadshow.
Lisbon, Coimbra and Oporto will host more than 300 travel agents and opinion leaders, aiming to bring the attractiveness of the Algarve region to the country’s main cities.
The roadshow, which was run with great success in March ctravelling to Seville, Salamanca and Madrid, is intended for professionals and consists of a workshop in each city alongside an exhibition of Algarve tourism businesses.
Around 20 travel agents and hoteliers will have the opportunity to present their services, make new contacts and develop business opportunities between the Algarve and the rest of the country.
Desidério Silva, president of the tourist board said that "with this promotion we want to highlight the performance of the destination and meet the high expectations of the sector."
It is unlikely that questions about the impact on tourism of the impending test drilling by Spanish oil giant Repsol off the Algarve shoreline will receive any answers.
Silva attended a recent meeting to discuss the Algarve's maritime tourism and economy and, along with a visiting secretary of state, decided that questions could be asked only after the politicians has left the conference half way through.
The Algarve Tourist Board sooner or later will have to come up with a position on the oil and gas exploration and its affect on this vital aspect of the Algarve's economy.
Pretending it is not going to happen, or if it does happen that it will not affect the region is short-sighted and foolish.
In the meantime the Tourist Board's work in attracting people to the region continues with a degree of success and on the back of the most successful August tourism figures ever seen.
