The Municipal Council of Tourism (CMT) of Faro met last Wednesday, January 30th, for the first time, with the presence of private partners, after the changes introduced by the Chamber of Faro in the functioning of this advisory body.
From now on, to participate in the meetings, private individuals can apply to join the CMT, «just by developing activity related to the sector, in the municipality».
This meeting, which took place in the Main Hall of the Paços do Concelho, was also the first since the municipality created the Tourism Promotion Division, which aims to promote the municipality of Faro «with the issuing markets and the improvement of the Municipality's articulation with entities linked to the sector».
The meeting «had about 50 participants from regional tourism entities, parish councils, Municipal Assembly, security forces, University of the Algarve, International Airport, sector associations, travel agencies, tour operators, maritime-tourism companies and entertainment tourism, hotel and restaurant entrepreneurs and other public and private entities with responsibilities in several areas», advances the Chamber of Faro.
Carlos Baía, councilor responsible for the Tourism department, presented the county's recent tourist evolution and the Action Plan of the Tourism Promotion Division for 2019.
The member of the executive also presented the evolution of the number of beds in the municipality, from around 1.700 in 2013 to approximately 4.500 in 2018, distributed across all types of accommodation.
The number of overnight stays increased from around 290.500 in 2013 to 520.000 in 2017. The occupancy rate, in turn, according to the data presented, also «has gone up over the last few years, having been, in 2017, 55% , being above the values of the Algarve and Portugal».
The meeting also presented the distribution of local accommodation by parish, with Sé/S.Pedro leading, with 55%, followed by Santa Bárbara de Nexe, with 16%, Montenegro, with 14%, and Conceição/Estoi, with 11%.
Alberto Mota Borges, Director of the Airport of Faro, was a guest at the session and spoke about the evolution seen in the movement of the airport over the last few years and the profile of passengers and airlines.
According to the official, the number of passengers disembarking at the airport, in the last five years, grew "rather sharply" from 5.981.448, in 2013, to 8.685.571, in 2018.
Rogério Bacalhau, president of the Chamber of Faro, ended the work «noting the importance of public investment in the qualification of the territory, making it more attractive for companies and visitors», says the municipality.
The mayor “highlighted ongoing projects, with the seafront promenade, which will connect the outer part of the recreational dock to Largo de S. Francisco, the Urban Rehabilitation Operation (ORU), recently approved, for the riverside area of Faro, or the preparation of the Detailed Plans for Bom João and Cais Comercial».
For Rogério Bacalhau, all these investments “will also be crucial to further enhance the contributions of all private agents, who have done a lot for the revitalization of the municipality and to which we are recognized”.
The CMT is an organ for debate and reflection on Tourism in Faro, «with the objective of improving the tourist offer and identifying market opportunities and promotion of Tourism in the county».
Comments