«Although Lagoa is a city, it continues, in several areas, to have a somewhat provincial mentality, and this is still an obstacle to growth». This is the opinion of Rui Pires Santos, director of the newspaper «Lagoa Informa».
Based on the statistical data provided by Pordata and summarized in the infographic that we publish above, the Sul Informação asked a journalist to make a portrait of the municipality of Lagoa, where he works and resides.
Pordata's figures are not surprising to Rui Pires Santos, who considers that they are “in line with the county's history”. The data, he adds, "reveal stability in the various parameters, although they show an increase in the elderly population, which is transversal to the region and the entire country."
On the other hand, the statistics “show the considerable number of foreign residents, in a positive fact for the local dynamics, and confirm a well-managed municipality, which has always been a hallmark of Lagoa”.
Rui Santos even considers that «the municipality of Lagoa is perhaps one of the best in the Algarve in terms of quality of life. For its natural beauty, good gastronomy, security, quality infrastructure for the practice of sports, heritage and good communication routes. Over time, except in the crisis years, – roughly between 2010 and 2014 – Lagoa grew and improved».
But not everything is roses in the county. «A good service that Lagoa always had, but that it lost in the last three years, was in the health area. The Health Centers throughout the county always function very well, with quality, good conditions and no waiting times, contrary to what happened in some counties in the region. Unfortunately, today they are all leveled below», stresses the journalist.
As for the economy and business dynamics, Rui Pires Santos argues that «there must be greater entrepreneurship and a more global and modern vision. There are examples of new projects, albeit scarce. There are good companies, good entrepreneurs, but there is a lack of innovation for a municipality that has countless potentials».
For, he stresses, and drawing attention to a problem that is transversal to the entire Algarve, «at the economic level, there is a lack of global commitment to sectors other than just tourism. It is necessary to make a difference in relation to the other municipalities and not just take the easiest route, which is tourism, an area that is currently in high demand. It is necessary, from now on, to encourage and promote the creation of companies in sectors such as agriculture or industry, so that employment in the municipality does not depend too much on tourism».
For that, “it would be useful to think and prepare a joint strategy, involving some entrepreneurs with financial solidity, for the investment in other sectors. This would be thinking about the future and preventing the municipality's economy for an eventual end of the cycle of this tourist boom registered in the last two years».
The director of the fortnightly newspaper «Lagoa Informa» considers that the council lacks «an association of local entrepreneurs, truly interested, not only focused on sudden profits, that would discuss this issue and think about expanding their business areas, with a vision of 10 or 20 years".
And then… «there is still the question of mentalities», that «a bit provincial mentality» that continues to characterize Lagoa. “As a result of this mentality, there are few partnerships and synergies, which could be the engine for greater business dynamics”.
«It is necessary that the new generations emerge with more strength and willingness to do things differently. Doing the same thing as what already exists or more of it, just because it worked next door, cannot be an option. It is necessary to invest in business areas where the municipality is not yet strong or in economic activities with potential, but which are still to be explored», he repeats.
Another gap that the journalist finds in the municipality has to do with green and leisure spaces. «Lagoa, and almost every municipality in the Algarve, lacks a green space, a garden worthy of the name, as we see in cities like Viseu, Coimbra or Leiria, just to give a few examples».
Rui Pires Santos even considers that «this is a fault of the municipality: the lack of a dignified green space and not a small group of medium-sized trees and garden benches, as we see all over the Algarve. Lagoa would make a difference in the region if it had a mini Jardim da Estrela or the current Campo Grande, in Lisbon, with large trees, lake, terraces, seating, leisure and shade areas».
As for the associative dynamic, which, in so many municipalities, ends up complementing the action of official entities such as the City Council, in Lagoa, Rui Pires Santos says that «there is a remarkable dynamic of the associations, even though it is often marked by such a mentality that I mentioned before. It is necessary to structure, think and not repeat what others already do».
In any case, “collectivities have weight and play an important role in the community to maintain identity and tradition. However, they too need to gradually innovate and renew themselves».
All in all, analyzing Pordata's data and taking into account his own experience, the journalist concludes: «Lagoa is a calm, organized and safe municipality. I think it has the essentials that a normal citizen needs to have a pleasant life».
NOTE: O Sul Informação is publishing a series of 16 articles called “X-Ray of the Municipalities”, dedicated to each of the 16 Algarve municipalities.
The infographics, developed by our multimedia journalist Nuno Costa, use statistical data from Pordata.
The people chosen to comment on the data in each of the municipalities are not, as much as possible, linked to political parties and reside, have businesses, work or were born in the municipalities concerned.
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