Motorhomeism and sustainability mark the visit of the Secretary of State for Tourism to São Brás de Alportel

Signature of a protocol on motor caravanning between Turismo de Portugal, the Algarve Tourism Region, CCDR Algarve, AMAL and the Federation of Camping and Mountaineering of Portugal,

Secretary of State rides a bicycle – Photo: Jorge Gomes

Getting to know the work carried out in São Brás de Alportel in the area of ​​tourism and formalizing the protocol for promoting sustainable motorhomes were the objectives of the visit that the Secretary of State for Tourism made this Monday, the 15th, to that municipality.

Rita Marques' visit began at the “Motorhome Ecopark São Brás de Alportel”, considered one of the best motorhome service areas in the Algarve and the first in the region to receive the approval certificate from the Federation of Camping and Mountaineering of Portugal.

This space was the chosen setting for the signing of the Cooperation Protocol between Turismo de Portugal, the Algarve Tourism Region, the Algarve Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR), the Algarve Intermunicipal Community and the Camping and Federation Federation. Mountaineering in Portugal, which aims to join synergies in the development of this tourism sector and promote the options available in the national territory for tourists who opt for motorhomes to travel and discover Portugal.

This service area, along the EN2, north of São Brás de Alportel, was born from the dream of an enterprising couple who left Lisbon for the center of the Algarve and, in the midst of nature, implemented a project that seeks to reconcile the passion for motorhomes with tourism nature, in a sustainable and ecological space, which the president of the Chamber Vítor Guerreiro considered as a “project with a vision of the future”, praising the vision and entrepreneurial spirit of investors in this rural area of ​​the municipality.

The mayor also announced that, aware of the potential of this tourism sector, the Municipality invested in the creation of a new Motorhome Service Area, integrated in the inter-municipal project "Rota Serrana de Motorcaravanismo", located at the south entrance of São Brás, whose opening will be announced for very soon.

It is “an important type of tourism not only because of the dynamics it imprints immediately, but because it allows for an experience of greater proximity to the community, leveraging a whole set of sectors in the area of ​​tourism and local commerce, and often promoters residential tourism, which is one of the economic engines of the municipality”, he said.

Secretary of State Rita Marques stated that motorhomeism is a challenge of the greatest importance in the national touristic panorama, referring to the work that has been developed by the set of partner entities, underlining the effort in the regulation of these infrastructures, which “are here a good example” to ensure respect for a range of concerns, including environmental concerns.

“We just want them to leave their emotional footprint”, he observed, recalling the importance of respecting communities and territory.

Vitor Guerreiro also defended the importance of joining efforts and synergies to enhance the interior territories, with greater autonomy for municipalities, in the management of their territories, with policies that must be sensitive to current needs for the establishment of companies and new residents, namely in terms of physical and digital accessibility.

The mayor also recalled that, assuming a key role in encouraging economic development, the Municipality created the Via Verde para o Empreendedorismo, which seeks to streamline procedures for the realization of business projects that are intended to establish in São Brás de Alportel.

The program of his visit to São Brás de Alportel followed, on a bicycle route, through the network of pedestrian roads, starting at the new “Circular” Bus Terminal, stopping at the Casa Memória on the EN2 and arriving at the Museu do Traje.

At the Casa Memória on the EN2, Rita Marques had the opportunity to learn about the tourist dynamics of the municipality, following the strategy of valuing heritage – Route of Memory – which has attracted a growing number of tourists in the region.

The visit ended at the Museu do Traje, the county's tourist ex-libris and a reference cultural space in the region, where a work meeting was held that brought together a wide range of entities in the region.

Rita Marques listened to the responsible of the region, to find out the current status of tourism in the Algarve, in the context of a pandemic. The health situation in the Algarve, the evolution of unemployment and social support and the response of companies in the tourism sector were also discussed. A moment of sharing and strengthening synergies and important strategies for the recovery of the sector in the region.

"This is a refined and continuous work that does not end with this visit", assured the Secretary of State for Tourism at the end of the meeting, after carefully trying to get to know the different dimensions of the region's reality.

“Our goals are very ambitious. We have to ensure that we resume activity in the tourism sector in complete safety, of course, but also as a unique opportunity to do more and better in this sector. That's why we announce the Plan + Sustainability and that is why we have been signing an important protocol for responsible tourism. There is a large set of goals here that we continue to work on after the visit, always in articulation with the territory and with the Regional Entity”, said Rita Marques, ensuring that there is still a lot to be done in this sector.

The visit to São Brás de Alportel took place as part of a two-day journey through the Algarve region, during which it was possible to contact different contexts and realities of the Algarve tourism sector in this pandemic period, as well as to present the initiative for recovery “Reactivate Tourism. Construir Futuro” based on sustainability, boosting the circular economy and environmental quality in tourism.

The visit of the Secretary of State to São Brás de Alportel was accompanied by the municipal executive, the presidents of the Tourism Region (João Fernandes), the Algarve Intermunicipal Community (António Pina), the Regional Health Administration (Paulo Morgado), CCDR Algarve (José Apolinário), and by the director of the Employment and Professional Training Service of the IEFP (António Palma), regional director of the Authority for Working Conditions (Teresa Marques) and the representative of the District Center for Social Security, José Guerreiro, among other representatives of entities in the region and elements of Turismo de Portugal.

 

Photos: Jorge Gomes

 



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