In 2016, the Algarve had a year of records in tourism, but there is room for growth. Desidério Silva, president of the Algarve Tourism Region (RTA), sees potential in new markets, such as the American one, but the fact that TAP does not ensure more connections to the airport of Faro it is an obstacle to the coming of more tourists to the region.
In an interview with the program Impressões da RUA FM/Sul Informação, Desidério Silva explained that "there are concerns about attracting new markets." However, in relation to «outbound markets such as the United States, Brazil and Asian countries, the Algarve does not position itself very much in relation to this profile, even due to the lack of access by air».
The official considers that “TAP is not a friend of the region, as we know. It only flies to Lisbon and Lisbon-Faro, in the sense of: “as they arrive in Lisbon, we will take them to Faro and if they are in Faro, and they want to go elsewhere, let's take them to Lisbon”».
For Desidério Silva, «while there are no more flights Faro-Lisbon or while TAP does not fly from Faro for a capital of Europe, we will always have difficulties. Even so, the American market this year was our 9th market. This means that, if there were more capacity and more mobility compared to flights from the United States to the Algarve, it would help».
TAP does not link Porto to Faro by air, but criticism of the airline's activity brings the two destinations closer together. Rui Moreira, mayor of Porto, has also made several considerations regarding the company's alleged abandonment of Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, having even written a book on the subject.
Therefore, the focus of RTA «is to work where we are sure there is a return. The other destinations are to go to work. For example, the Algarve Tourism Association will make a roadshow in the United States, associating with the Alentejo, based on this demand».
Regarding European markets, the main source of tourists to the region, Desidério Silva says that, even so, there is “a brutal potential in these markets. There are many people who still don't know the region. For example, we have great potential in Germany. Germans who come to the Algarve, given the number of German tourists there are, are a minority. Therefore, we have the capacity to reinforce and increase the number of visitors from Germany, as well as the capacity to increase the number of Englishmen».
Listen to the full interview here:
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