The year 2016 broke records in tourism in the Algarve and 2017, which is about to start, also promises to be a success for the sector. Many tourists came to the region for the first time, “pushed” by the insecurity that hovers in other tourist destinations. If, on the one hand, they found the sun, the beach or gastronomy, on the other, they found an airport under construction or the EN125 with work still to be completed. Will these tourists come back?
The president of the Algarve Tourism Region, speaking to the Sul Informação, says he is «convinced that many of these tourists will return to the Algarve. Creating loyalty is one of the great concerns that exist, to consolidate the region, so that people come and return to their countries and speak well about it».
Desidério Silva believes that «the Algarve managed to create a good set of offers and experiences for those who visited us. Our survey results show a level of satisfaction between 80 and 90%. So I am convinced that many will return. Both the situation at the Airport and the EN125 are one-off situations that will not affect overall satisfaction».
Still, the responsible prefers that these two issues are resolved before the start of another high season. "It is important that the works on the EN125 start now, that is what is expected, so that they do not take place during the summer. In relation to the airport, according to the works plan, in the high season, the works will already be concluded".
For the president of RTA, 2017 "promises to be an excellent year, following 2016".
The opinion is shared by Eliseu Correia, CEO of EC Travel, with regard to expectations for the next year. “The way I look at it today, I have no doubts that we will have another good year”, he anticipates.
The entrepreneur emphasizes that «we have all the conditions met in terms of product quality and the fragility of direct competition to have an even better year». However, this «does not happen on merit. It does not happen because there is a great strategy for attracting new markets on the part of Turismo de Portugal, but because of the misfortune of others».
For Eliseu Correia, «in terms of hotels, transfers, restaurants, beaches… we are the best in the world and that helps tourists come back».
However, the CEO of EC Travel says he believes that “many of the customers who came in 2016 will never come back. Now we have to take the opportunity to retain the new tourists who will arrive. We will have some problems, like the one at the airport, already resolved and that helps».
Still, there are other issues to resolve: «in terms of public transport, the Algarve is a disgrace, the EN125 is a road-shaped cemetery and there are no measures taken by anyone to improve this. The works are at a standstill and will start in June, to take place in the summer».
Therefore, Eliseu Correia fears that these good years will pass and the Algarve has lost an opportunity. «I'm not seeing changes, I see everyone orgasmically satisfied with the numbers that exist. This lives on cycles and will end. When this is reversed, we will see that no one has done anything to retain those who came here. We have clients that are being pushed to Portugal. It had never occurred to them to come here. On the part of individuals, we are able to receive tourists and offer them a good service, so that they return. And the official entities have? That is the question».
From the point of view of hoteliers, “2016 was a positive year, better than expected. We had an increase of 7% in occupancy and 13% in revenue», reveals Elidérico Viegas, president of the Algarve Hotels and Tourism Enterprises Association (AHETA).
Even so, «the speech that we had the best year ever is not reflected in companies in the same way». For example, «in the domestic market, there was a decrease in demand, which does not mean that we had fewer Portuguese in the Algarve, but they opted for other alternatives, such as local accommodation».
Regarding the loyalty of tourists, Elidérico Viegas considers that “those who come to the Algarve are very impressed, but that is not enough. These are people who come here due to external factors, internally very little is being done to consolidate the position of the Algarve in tourism».
This opportunity required, for the hoteliers' representative, «a mobilization for the importance of tourism, whether from local authorities or from support services, such as health, safety and infrastructure. Modernization of tourist areas is needed. This should be a national plan».
For Elidérico Viegas, «the Algarve is a showcase of the country, but what we see is an open-air shipyard. The works on the EN125 are at a standstill, this makes no sense. The Government cannot treat the region as it is doing”.
Despite the problems, 2017 should also be a good year for hospitality. "We are going through a period of increased demand, if 2017 goes as planned, we can reach the critical point of occupancy rates", he concludes.
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