The Algarve needs a «major change so that we don't go through what we are going through again». The phrase comes from Ana Abrunhosa, Minister of Territorial Cohesion, who argues that the region needs to be “more resilient and less dependent” on Tourism.
The ruler, who was in Faro to launch the work of UAlg Tec Campus, stressed, in statements to journalists, that "the Algarve is one of the regions that suffered the most from the pandemic" and that the "Additional 300 million euros cake" of the Recovery Fund, especially aimed at the Algarve, brings «a great responsibility» and will be important for «this process of change that we have to make in the region».
And, according to the ruler, “a big change will have to be made. The region needs to be more competitive, resilient and less dependent on a single economic activity», he reinforced.
Even so, he stressed, «tourism will continue to be an important economic activity in the Algarve and the country».
Asked about the areas in which not only the Algarve, but the country, needs to invest, Ana Abrunhosa began by highlighting housing. «In the Algarve there is Tourism, but a lot of tourism can be transformed into housing. We have already changed the legislation and, now, Local Accommodation can be transformed into housing and we have a problem in the country which is leasing».
In addition, he added, “we have to invest in science to solve society's problems. The social and health areas also need large investments. We are an aging population and betting on active and healthy aging is one of the areas in which I think there is a future in the Algarve. Who wouldn't want to live in the Algarve? If we like to spend holidays, we would like to live and this is an area in the Algarve to explore. For that we need knowledge and universities and local authorities working together».
Therefore, considers the minister, «of the additional amount of 300 million euros that the Algarve will have, an important slice must be for the University of Algarve. If we are giving UAlg this responsibility, we must give it the means to play that role, to help diversify the region's economic base. But that doesn't change from one moment to another, it will cause pain and take time», he concluded.
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