André Gomes: There is a "strong disinvestment" by the Government in Algarve Tourism

Single candidate officially presented himself, accompanied by the «hard core» of his future team

André Gomes, flanked by the «hard core» of his candidacy – Photo: Elisabete Rodrigues | Sul Informação

«There is a strong disinvestment [by the Government] in Algarve Tourism», said André Gomes this Monday, May 15th, in Faro, in the official presentation of his candidacy for the presidency of the Algarve Tourism Board (RTA).

The only candidate for the elections that will take place on June 13 guaranteed that fighting for more funding from the central state for the RTA will be «one of the great causes that will move me throughout the term of office and on which the execution of everything we propose to do in the next five years».

With a full house, in the auditorium of the RTA headquarters building in Faro, and in a short and concise 12-minute speech, André Gomes recalled that «the Algarve is the region that most contributes to the tourism economy at national level and, however, we are the entity that receives the least for its activity».

In addition, he stressed, «the RTA, like the other Regional Tourism Entities, is clearly underfunded».

Explaining the numbers, the candidate for president of the Algarve's highest tourism body recalled that «the sum of the State Budget allocated to Regional Tourism Entities has remained unchanged since 2016», having been «initially» reduced «from 20,8 million [de euros] to 17,8 million and later to 16,4 million, an amount that remains today».

«In a purely theoretical exercise, but one that I will strive to make a reality, if we applied the CPI (Consumer Price Index) to the amount of the OE, the Regional Tourism Entities would now have 22,2 million euros».

Only the «RTA would receive, in 2023, 5,5 million. Instead, we will receive 4,1 million, on which 600 euros are already captive», to which are added «the captions imposed by the Government».

All things considered, André Gomes has no doubts in stating that «here there is a strong disinvestment in Algarve Tourism», recalling that this is an «old struggle of the RTA that previous presidents fought, without the desired success».

 

 

But the candidate's purposes do not stop there, as André Gomes also said he was "committed" to the reform of the law that establishes the legal regime for the organization and functioning of the Regional Tourism Entities. «The RTA (…) has proven for a long time that it has conditions for greater administrative and financial autonomy».

In his speech, André Gomes stated that «heart reasons for this candidacy, I have plenty of them». Objective reasons too, namely the 20 years of work in the Algarve, «15 of them in the area of ​​tourism».

For this reason, he expressed his willingness to assume commitments «to maintain the Algarve not only as the main Portuguese tourist destination, but as the best, the most diversified, the most sustainable, the most innovative, the most qualified, without ever losing the charm of the Algarve that fills the memories of childhood, youth and even adulthood» of the millions of tourists, national and foreign, who seek the region.

He also defined five other lines of action: firstly, the «diversification and enhancement» of the tourist offer in the Algarve, in fact, as he said, «in line with the strategy followed by the current president João Fernandes, which I fully endorse».

Then, «increase the promotion of the destination», namely through the «exploration of new geographies and reinforcement in already established markets», as well as «ensure greater diversification of funding sources».

The candidate also defended the need to "invest in dialogue and cooperation between associations in the sector" and even in "greater training and qualification".

 

André Gomes with his mother, Isilda Gomes – Photo: Elisabete Rodrigues | Sul Informação

 

In the official presentation, the sole candidate for the presidency of the RTA was flanked by those he classified as the «hard core» of his candidacy, in which there was only one novelty: Alberto Mota Borges, who is the director of the Airport of Faro / Gago Coutinho, as a candidate for member of the Executive Committee.

The rest carry over from the presidency of João Fernandes: Helder Martins, current chairman of the Board of the General Assembly of the RTA, candidate for a new term, and president of AHETA, Isolete Correia, current secretary of the Board of the GA, candidate for a new term, representing the Association Portuguesa de Portos de Recreio and also Fátima Catarina, current vice-president of the RTA and also a candidate for a new mandate as a member of the Executive Committee.

Despite the crowded room, with many businessmen linked to tourism, hotels, restaurants, animation, nautical, shipbuilding, some regional directors (IEFP and DRPAlg), directors of associations in the sector, co-workers, staff members from the RTA, some of them with leadership positions, friends, the mayors were missing from the room. The point is that, at the same time, a meeting of the Intermunicipal Community of the Algarve (AMAL) was still taking place, in Faro, while in Loulé an initiative by NERA took place with IAPMEI.

In the end, André Gomes had already finished his speech, the mayors arrived, socialists only. that the Sul Informação As you may have seen, of the PSD mayors, only Carlos Baía, councilor of the City Council of Faro.

Before the candidate's intervention, businessman Renato Pereira, one of the owners of Grupo RR, representative of the candidacy, also spoke, referring to the times when he met André Gomes in childhood and to his qualities.

In the end, André Gomes thanked everyone for their presence and support, from the «public and private sectors, mayors, businessmen, representatives of industry associations, co-workers, friends and family».

playing with the criticisms directed at him by the PSD, Andre Gomes personalized family thanks to his mother (Isilda Gomes, mayor of Portimão) and his wife (Ana Varges Gomes, president of the Board of Directors of Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve), both sitting in the front row. Pointing to them, he said, with a broad smile: «so that there are no doubts about who my mother and my wife are». General laughter in the room.

 

Photos: Elisabete Rodrigues | Sul Informação

 

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