As Faro and surrounding towns fill up with bikers from all over Europe, the president of the Association of Trade and Services of the Algarve Region (ACRAL) added his thoughts to the debate over policing policies in previous years.
Victor Guerreiro regrets that the Faro Motorcycle Festival has been overshadowed in recent years by "some overzealous law enforcement authorities," to the point at which the organiser, Moto Clube de Faro, was on the point on dropping the festival, or more likely moving it over the border to a more welcoming Spain.
"Of course, there must be rules and laws must be upheld, but this calls for stakeholders - all stakeholders – to show some restraint. We need to safeguard the security of people and property but it is also important to avoid excessive and disproportionate police enforcement" stresses Guerreiro, well aware that many local businesses do well over the festival period.
The ACRAL president stressed that it would be a great loss to the Algarve if we did not host this event since "the Faro International Motorcycle Festival is an important driving force for the local economy and contributes strongly to the international promotion of the region."
The 34th Faro International Motorcycle Festival began yesterday, Thursday, and runs until Sunday at Vale das Almas, near Faro airport.
The organisers estimate that the event will attract between 15,000 and 20,000 bikers for a few days of music, experimentation with recreational substances and a music line-up that should appeal to those of a certain age and hair length with the Stranglers topping the bill.
