Costa Vicentina, one of the Algarve's most sought after areas by surfers, is once again the stage for the MEO Surf 2019 League, the main national competition in the sport. This achievement is the result of a partnership between the Algarve Tourism Region (RTA) with the Municipality of Aljezur and the National Surfers Association and will take to Amado beach, in Aljezur, the fourth stage of the MEO Surf League, from 21 to 23 June .
The organization of the MEO Surf League «considers that the natural landscapes and the conditions that Costa Vicentina has for surfing on a large scale enrich the event, so it did not hesitate to include it in this year's edition», stresses the RTA .
«We are very happy to return to the Algarve and take a leg of the MEO Surf League to the south of the country. The Algarve is one of the most important poles of national surfing and this is a way to give Algarve surfers the opportunity to compete in the biggest Portuguese competition. Consequently, this is a way for us to direct surfers and visitors to the region, helping to promote it at national and European level», emphasizes the president of the National Association of Surfers, Francisco Rodrigues.
For the president of RTA, «the return of this national event to the Algarve is an important step in the implementation of the strategy to promote the region as a quality destination for nautical tourism and, specifically, in the surfing segment».
"This bet highlights the excellent natural conditions of the Algarve coast for the practice of this sport, but also the region's responsiveness to events of this nature and projection", adds João Fernandes.
In turn, the Mayor of Aljezur, considers “an honor to receive in the county this test of national affirmation of our athletes and the sport. More and more people come to us as a surfing destination throughout the year, which contributes steadily to the strengthening of the local economy».
«Everyone says that here you can practice a good level of surfing characterized by constant waves, with a pronounced and striking character. This is what we will also show the country from June 21st to 23rd», concludes José Gonçalves.
The Algarve stage (Allianz Algarve Pro) will be the penultimate of the MEO Surf League and will be organized in conjunction with the Municipality of Aljezur and the Algarve Surf Clube. It will have even more attention, as it will be the final stage of the Allianz Triple Crown.
This competition comes at a time when the profile of the surfer who seeks Aljezur to practice the sport is already known. According to the study by the «Surf Tourist Product in the Municipality of Aljezur», surfing generates an estimated annual value of 6 million euros, 65 percent of which is spent in Aljezur, which receives around 80 surfers a year.
According to the study developed by the University of Algarve, the international surfer is young (average 32 years old), has a high average income (1500 €), higher education, an average stay of 7 days, an average daily expense of 75 euros and travel accompanied, in particular with friends, resulting in more tourist expenses in the visited place.
Likewise, this tourist who makes surfing his main motivation for traveling to the Algarve highly values the natural attributes of the destination.
«Surf is a betting segment of nautical tourism. It diversifies the offer, allows a region like the Algarve to mitigate its seasonality and boosts the regional economy based on a resource that sets us apart: the sea. Therefore, the Algarve will always be available to support and host an event such as the MEO Surf League», reinforces João Fernandes.
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