Social Action, Inclusion, Tourism, Climate Transition, Energy and Water Efficiency, Decarbonization, Circular Economy, Youth, Digital Transition. These are just some of the themes that will be discussed, for three days, between the 8th and 10th of April, at the first edition of Albufeira Summit, which was presented today.
José Carlos Rolo, president of the Albufeira City Council, which promotes the summit, stressed that the initiative aims to raise «contributions for the future» of the municipality.
For this, in addition to organizing this Summit, which will feature local, regional and national experts (the final program is still being agreed), the Municipality is also drafting its proposal for a 2030 Strategy for Albufeira, a document that the Mayor hopes to have finished «by mid- May” and which should be aligned with the Portugal 2030 Strategy.
Albufeira is the 2nd most important tourist destination in the country, just after Lisbon. It also concentrates 40% of the Algarve's tourist accommodation capacity. But it is also being the municipality most affected by the crisis caused by the pandemic, namely in terms of unemployment in the tourism, restaurant, hotel and trade sectors.
«The much talked about bazooka it will come, namely to the Algarve, because it is the region most affected by the pandemic”, stressed José Carlos Rolo. But it is necessary to know what to do with the money that will come to the region and that is the motivation for Albufeira to be drawing up its 2030 Strategy. The objective of this meeting is, according to the mayor, «to listen to the experts», but also « debate with people from the local community'.
what to get out of Summit it will also be incorporated into the Albufeira 2030 Strategic Plan, so that, «when the money comes, it will be from bazooka, whether from other sources of community funding, we already have a course outlined to build the future of this city and the municipality», concluded the mayor.
Albufeira Summit has how media partner the Cofina group, owner of the Correio da Manhã newspaper, of CMTV, of the Sábado magazine, among other media. Eduardo Dâmaso, representing Cofina, stressed that "a moment in which it is increasingly essential to promote the discussion about what we are as a country and, above all, about how we are going to get out of this pandemic situation, as a country and society" is being lived. .
One of the fundamental debates, he added, "has to do with how we are going to use community aid." "What, from now on, happens, will have to create a country a little better and stronger than we were in 2019".
On the Algarve in general, and the municipality of Albufeira in particular, Eduardo Dâmaso added that «a fundamental debate to be held is how, by valuing tourism, one can create new ranks» in the economy, diversifying it.
"It is essential that these debates take place in the Algarve and in the rest of the country, promoted by institutions that are closer to the people", namely the local authorities, he also said.
The Albufeira Summit presentation also featured brief interventions by three of the speakers who will be present at this initiative, from 8 to 10 April.
Rui Justo, who is part of the governing bodies of APAL – Albufeira Promotion Agency and is the general director of Balaia Golf Village, pointed out that, after a year of 2020 with huge losses, only saved by the «oxygen balloon with the months of July and August, in which we worked with the national market», «what awaits us is uncertainty».
This year, that responsible hotelier hopes to work again with the national market, but also as «the proximity market, which is neighboring Spain», also awaiting the «reopening of the air corridors», especially in the British market.
«We have to show that Albufeira is a safe destination» and that, «in addition to the sun and the beach, we have culture, gastronomy» as well as «other potentialities that we have to bet on».
For his part, Délio Pescada, Tourism consultant and CEO of Delio and Partners, underlined that, now more than ever, «it is essential to pay attention to the competition»: Palma de Mallorca has already doubled its flights and announced that it has done so. "Why wasn't that done already in the Algarve?", he asked.
Turkey has already communicated to operators, especially the Germans, that all tourism workers will be vaccinated, creating a "feeling of security". “And here, what are you going to do?”.
“The Greeks have already told the English that, as soon as they are vaccinated, they are very welcome. It is us?"
And around here? "Without the English, we're not going there!", guaranteed Délio Pescada. «We need more than the national market», since «Albufeira alone has 209 developments, we have to fill them, we have to give people jobs».
The last speaker to speak at this summit presentation was Patrícia Seromenho, provider of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia in Albufeira, who expressed her satisfaction with the fact that the initiative "involves the community" and takes into account the social sector.
Stressing that «all evils create opportunities», the provider added that, with regard to the response given to the pandemic by the social sector, «the Algarve was always seen as being at the tail of the country, but today we are an example of how to do and be".
"Nothing will go back to the way it was before, not even tourism." In order for this sector to become the engine of the region's economy again, «we have to think, we have to reflect», involving not only those who depend directly on it, but also other areas, «because this is the circular economy».
Opening the way for the debate that could be launched at the Albufeira Summit, Patrícia Seromenho added that, in the future, hotel units may even find an opportunity, whether in health or social action, creating new synergies with these sectors.
Closing the session, President José Carlos Rolo stressed that the idea of “People First”, which is included in the Portugal 2030 Strategy, “cannot be just a buzzword”.
In Albufeira, he concluded, «we have a long way to go» and «we have to find and debate the problems, so that we can find the solutions». In short, this is what Albufeira Summit intends to do, over three days, from 8 to 10 April.
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