A walking festival, 'five to seven' new walking routes and the recovery of existing ones affected by fire, the creation of a digital platform that concentrates the entire tourist offer, training for local agents, the reinforcement of an existing event, the «Monchique Serra Natal», and also a strong commitment to external promotion. These are the main objectives of the program “Revitalize Monchique – tourism as a catalyst”, which kicked off yesterday in that mountain village in the Algarve.
Ensuring the rebirth of Monchique's economy, heavily affected by last summer's great fire, is the main motto of this program, which was officially presented yesterday in this Algarve village with the presence of the Secretary of State for Tourism, in front of a room full of businessmen and entrepreneurs locations.
Backed by funding of 431.856 euros, guaranteed 100 percent by Turismo de Portugal, the «Revitalize Monchique» project is led by the Algarve Tourism Region and has as partners the Algarve Tourism Association, Almargem – Defense Association the Cultural and Environmental Heritage of the Algarve and the Municipality of Monchique. The objective is "to provide the region of Monchique and Silves with attractive conditions for the development of tourist activity through intervention in areas that were hit by the fire that struck these two municipalities in 2018".
The organization of the Festival of Walks will be in charge of the Monchique Chamber, whose president revealed to the Sul Informação that the first edition of the new event should only take place in the spring of 2020, alongside the already traditional Festival das Camelias.
«The Camellias Festival usually takes place in March or early April and it will be associated with it that the new Walking Festival will appear. For this year, because the participants like to organize themselves in advance, we won't have time anymore, although the Festival of Camellias should already include some walks. But next year we're off to a good start!”, guaranteed the mayor Rui André.
Another bet of the Municipality will be to reinforce its initiative "Serra Natal", which now, explained the mayor to our newspaper, "want to assert itself as the reference event in the region, in the Christmas season, alongside the show again circus at the end of the year, promoted within the scope of 365Algarve». «Just as Óbidos has its Christmas event, with influence on a large urban area around it, here in Monchique, too, we want to attract the entire Algarve to our Serra Natal», stressed Rui André.
As for the Visitmonchique website, the digital platform that will aggregate all the information on the offer, in terms of nature and cultural tourism, local products, restaurants and accommodation in the municipality, this project is also under the responsibility of the City Council. and, according to the mayor, “it is already underway”. One of the novelties, revealed Rui André to Sul Informação, is the intention to place small interactive billboards in coastal hotels to spread all the information about Monchique.
But the “Revitalize Monchique” project will have seven main axes, which include those already mentioned, but still others.
Anabela Santos, from Almargem, pointed out that one of the main bets is on Via Algarviana, not only reinforcing the complementary routes in the county, but, above all, recovering the sectors of this great pedestrian and cycling route that pass through Monchique's territory.
“Two of these sectors were heavily affected by the fire, both in terms of signs and the surrounding landscape. Therefore, we will have to see if it will be necessary to change these sectors, changing the route at least in some sections, and we will have to put signs again», he explained.
"Another five to seven new routes" will also be created, not only "pedestrian, but also for mountain biking and trail". For that, guaranteed Anabela Santos, "we will need the help of associations and local agents, who know the terrain very well." «This candidacy is not just from ATA, RTA, Almargem and the Câmara de Monchique, it belongs to everyone. Therefore, local actors will have to be involved, they will have to be involved», he appealed.
After the tragedy of the fires, it is necessary to discover "the places where the fire did not reach", in order to make a "positive communication" about the much that Monchique has to offer in the scope of nature tourism, he added.
«In the autumn of this year, we intend to have these new products to launch», revealed Anabela Santos to Sul Informação, in the margins of the session. Even because fire, if it brought destruction, also brought new opportunities, by uncovering “medieval paths that had been covered by the forest for a long time, or elements of the built heritage, such as waterwheels, mills and other hydraulic devices”.
A very important aspect of “Revitalize Monchique” will be the capacity building actions for local agents, in terms of landscape interpretation, namely flora, fauna and cultural heritage. Anabela Santos announced that "at least two training actions will be promoted."
Then, it is necessary that the entire offer, more structured and organized, more capable, is promoted to attract more tourists to the Serra de Monchique.
The promotion actions will be in charge of the Algarve Tourism Region, with regard to the Portuguese and Spanish market, and the Algarve Tourism Association, for the rest of Europe. In this case, the biggest bet will be made in the markets of the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the Netherlands, which are the biggest consumers of nature tourism.
Educational visits will be promoted to make the mountain known to journalists (press trips) and operators (fam trips) of these markets.
ATA will also be responsible for translating all materials on the visitmonchique website and other publications to be created.
“We are counting on all of you and that is why we are going to hold meetings with associations and local agents, so that, at the end of the project, they do not feel cheated and so that what remains in the territory is what they are looking for and what Monchique needs”, he concluded. Anabela Santos.
Ana Mendes Godinho, Secretary of State for Tourism, underlined that the objective of the action program «Revitalize Monchique» is «to use the natural assets of Monchique as a key factor for revitalization».
Thus, it was thought of «replacing everything that had been destroyed by the fire, such as the routes, but it was also thought of going further», with the creation of «new trails, new products to be added, in how involve local agents, and also identify events that could be communication anchors».
The official thanked the «ability to make it happen on the ground», but also the fact that Turismo de Portugal was «creative in finding alternative solutions and mechanisms to finance this project 100%». João Fernandes, president of RTA, would even comment, regarding this 100% financing: "that no longer exists!".
The responsible for the Algarve tourism also praised the ability to assemble the entire strategy in «five months». In such a short time, «this strategic action plan was developed, we agreed with the partners and today we are here to sign the contracts, which is already a starting point».
But yesterday afternoon was a day rich in advertisements for tourism in the Algarve. João Fernandes, at the same session in Monchique, presented the SustenTUR Algarve project, which aims to promote the sustainability of the natural and cultural heritage of the region, among visitors and residents, in close partnership with public and private actors.
SustenTUR, which has a financial package of 204 euros and should run until November 30, 2020, will promote training, information and awareness actions, with the aim of strengthening a culture of tourism in the region.
For now, explained João Fernandes, "training actions for local accommodation" will be carried out, following what has already been promoted, of "tailor-made advice".
Then, awareness of the importance of respecting the cultural and natural heritage will be promoted. The actions will be aimed at tourists and residents, but above all at animation companies, not only in heritage and monuments (in collaboration with the Regional Directorate of Culture), but also in the «natural heritage, namely in the aquatic environment», in this case, very oriented towards maritime-tourism operators. The president of RTA mentioned some bad practices that need to be reversed, such as the case of visits to seahorses in Ria Formosa.
There will also be a part of this SustenTUR aimed at motorhome tourists, namely to inform them about “the campsites and motorhome parks that exist” and which are far from having their capacity exhausted.
Another action will have to do with «information on the network of cycling routes in the Algarve», namely training «guides for these mountain biking or touring routes».
Finally, the SustenTUR project intends to “combat tourism phobia”. Despite admitting that this "tourismphobia" is "most noticeable in large urban centers", João Fernandes said that "we have to be aware and work with residents", drawing attention to the fact that "tourism generates well-being and is the motto of the Algarve's economic development».
Secretary of State Ana Mendes Godinho considered that these two projects – Revitalizing Monchique and SustenTUR – “demonstrate the capacity of Tourism to be an instrument for mobilizing the territory and allow the promotion of the Algarve as a destination for nature, gastronomy, cultural tourism, with capacity to attract audiences throughout the year».
Closing the session, a protocol was also signed between Turismo de Portugal and the association Safe Communities Portugal. David Thomas, president of Safe Communities, stressed that "safety is very important, both for residents and tourists", adding that "Portugal is recognized abroad as one of the safest countries in the world".
However, it is necessary to continue working in partnership with Portuguese entities. The protocol, added David Thomas, "recognizes what is already being done, in the work we have been doing together, but it will also help to keep Portugal and the Algarve a welcoming and safe place."
Photos: Elisabete Rodrigues | Sul Informação
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