Networking, skills, investment, innovation and strategy were the key themes at the 'Tourism Opportunities in Low Density Areas’ seminar organised by Odiana, the lower Guadiana developemnt association, where nature tourism clearly was the answer.
The October to May period is the ideal time for many non-'sun and sand' holidays and the delegates discussed low density tourism strategies, the funds available and opportunities for nature tourism to fill in the winter and early spring gap left when beach holiday families depart after the summer season.
The President of the Algarve Tourism board, Desidério ‘Sustainable’ Silva referred to the need for a sustainable Algarve all year round, "You can not offer a low season product without the associated services, adjustments need to be made, we have to focus on training for a sustainable and quality product."
Silva called for a more diverse cultural offering between October and May, saying that "in two years time we will have a structurally strong and sustainable Algarve.”
The Odiana Association, the CCDR-Algarve, Castro Marim council, Alcoutim council and Vila Real de Santo António council all were represented as they discussed investments in infrastructure and walking trail networks.
The CCDR Algarve has funds available from the EU and its delegate looked at the RIS 3 - Regional Research Strategy for Smart Specialisation and the 'asymmetries in population distribution and the fight against structural constraints inherent in seasonality.'
"All projects submitted for operational programs should be aligned with this strategy and the submission must be an innovative one that anticipates trends in demand," according to the CCDR-Algarve which has faced criticism of favouritism in the past.
Valter Matias, Director of Odiana summarised the association's work from 1998 and said that Odiana had been a precursor of nature tourism in the Lower Guadiana, from its network of walking trails, birdwatching, the Great Guadiana Route, the online tour guide site, and said there is a mountain bike centre planned for the Lower Guadiana" as part of a "Vacation Packages" scheme that aims to sell the Guadiana area as a region and not as individual areas.
Adelino Soares from Vila do Bispo council said the key to success is to select and work with the right people and highlighted the Sagres Birdwatching Festival which few believed would work and now, in its seventh year, is a huge success.
Alexandre Laurent from the Castro Municipal council-owned company Nov Baesuris, explained the company's work in tourism and presented its online selling platform Local Market which soon will be launched.
