The Algarve wants to be one of the crossing points of the European network «EuroVelo», which aims to create 1650 kilometers of cycling routes throughout Europe. The first draft of the sections of this route planned for the region were made known during the debate «New Forms of Tourism», which took place at the Algarve Hotel and Tourism School, in Faro, last October 31st.
The strong bet on the niche of Cycling & Walking has been pointed out as a way to help reduce seasonality and ensure that the Algarve has more tourists, all year round. And if, in terms of hiking, there are already infrastructures in good condition, such as the Rota Vicentina, the Via Algarviana and the Grande Rota do Guadiana, on the cycling side there are still «problems to solve», namely the Ecovia do Algarve, which has flaws in the connection between routes and between municipalities, according to Filipe Beja, of the «EuroVelo» project in Portugal.
Ecovia's problems had also been reported by the Secretary of State for Tourism Ana Mendes Godinho on a bike ride he took last month on a section of that cycleway and that the Sul Informação followed. Now, inclusion in “EuroVelo” can be the way to correct what is not right.
Within the scope of this project, four sections of 50 to 80 kilometers each are expected to pass through the Algarve: the 4, from Sagres to Aljezur, the 3, from Portimão and Sagres, the 2, from Quinta do Lago to Portimão, and 1, from Vila Real de Santo António to Quinta do Lago, as you can see here The aim is always to “respect nature and natural properties” and manage to bring families together “from the oldest to the youngest”.
O cycling and walking, as well as culture and natural heritage, are three important axes for achieving new forms of tourism for the Algarve, in the view of Ana Mendes Godinho, who participated in the debate. The Secretary of State for Tourism recalled what has been done recently to consolidate this offer, giving as an example the 365 Algarve programme, adding that it is necessary to «show more than usual».
Even so, the commitment to sun and beach, which continues to be the area that brings more tourists to the Algarve, is also to "continue", stressed the Secretary of State, who believes that by combining different offers, "we are managing to expand the offer to all year round”, in the region.
The debate "New Forms of Tourism", part of the commemorations of the 30 years of Portugal joining the then European Economic Community, was also attended by Hortense Martins, Member of the PS, Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar, Member of the European Parliament, Pedro Costa Pereira, Director General for European Affairs, Paula Vicente, director of the Algarve Hotel and Tourism School, and Filipe Beja, of the «EuroVelo» project in Portugal.
Here are some photos of this debate:
Photos: Pedro Lemos|Sul Informação
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