There are 10 euros directly injected into the local economy and more than 2000 visitors (with returns), contributing to the «increase of the community's self-esteem towards its territory». O impact of walking festival, whose fifth edition ran from April 28th to May 1st, in the development of “your” Ameixial, is already well-known… «but it's not all done yet».
This is because, in addition to the positive numbers, there are also results on the ground, such as the fact that there is already, throughout the year, a shelter that can accommodate hikers eager to discover that territory in the interior of the mountainous region of the municipality of Loulé.
And all this evolution (and impact) on Ameixial is really due «to the Walking Festival», according to João Ministro, who spoke to Sul Informação, on the sidelines of the event's opening conference, held on Friday, April 28, in Loulé.
“People like the event, the activities, and end up discovering a new territory, which is interesting”, he explained. From the participants of this walking festival, some even end up coming back outside the days of the event, which proves the repercussions in Ameixial.
“The courses have also been improved and this is one of the results of the festival”, said João Ministro. Still, despite the indicators, gaps remain.
«The existing accommodation is not enough. We would like there to be a private initiative and we are even aware of foreign citizens who are recovering a house in a village close to Ameixial, so that next year they can rent rooms during the Festival», he revealed to Sul Informação.
«We have four marked routes, but we want to increase it to two more. Cultural heritage can also be improved, namely some megalithic tapirs that are semi-abandoned,” he added.
Júlio Cardoso, from the Alcoutim Walking Festival, corroborated João Ministro's idea, confessing that, for that event, the territory promotion strategy is "the same" as this one. Walking Festival.
Michael Stankey, from the British company Ramblers Walking Holidays, was also present at the opening conference of the walking festival. Coming directly from England, where walking is a true crowd sport, Michael explained to our newspaper that “it is more than proven that these initiatives can develop the territories”.
But, in order to do so, they need, in his opinion, «some investment from the government and local entities, in teamwork. If they are willing to invest, the returns will come».
For now, the Ramblers Walking Holidays it already has some hiking proposals for those who want to visit the Algarve, from taking the Via Algarviana, strolling through Tavira, or doing an authentic “Odyssey” through the region.
In spite of this, Michael Stankey never “walked around the Algarve”, a “flaw” that he guaranteed he would correct these days.
The opening session of the Walking Festival also served for this event and the Gran Canaria Walking Festival enter into an informal agreement.
In this partnership, in addition to the visit of members of the Portuguese festival organization to Spain for that festival, and the coming, now, from Gran Canaria to Ameixial, it is planned to «share some information on social networks», João Ministro told our newspaper .
Hugo Nunes, vice-president of the Loulé Chamber, says that this collaboration means "a leap" for the Festival do Ameixial.
João Fernandes, vice-president of the Algarve Tourism Region (RTA), an entity supporting the initiative, explained that the WFA "is in line with the guidelines of the RTA", such as "attenuating seasonality and promoting territorial cohesion" .
Teresa Fernandes, responsible for marketing and communication at Águas do Algarve, considered that the company is really «in the genesis of being able to maintain all activities» of the walking festival, because without water… «they don't exist».
And, for this edition, there was even something new: participants at the event drank tap water in canteens, instead of plastic bottles.
Photos: Pedro Lemos | Sul Informação
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