The award was handed out during the board’s 45th Anniversary and Awards Ceremony, held on 18 January 2016 at the Faro School for Hospitality and Tourism, in Faro.
The ceremony was attended by the Secretary of State for Tourism, the President of Turismo de Portugal, the President of the Algarve Tourism Board, the Commander of the GNR Faro District Command, Coronel Silva Gomes, the Mayor of Faro and around 150 others.
At the event Safe Communities Algarve was awarded a Medalha de Mérito Turístico (Medal of Merit in Tourism) for “Services relevant to tourism in the Algarve, which have benefited tourism activity.”
In a speech by the Secretary of State for Tourism, Ana Mendes Godinho said “I highlight the work of Safe Communities Algarve, which has helped make the Algarve a safe place to stay and visit.”
Safe Communities founder David Thomas received the award on behalf of the Association, and thanked Desidério Silva President of Turismo de Algarve, for recognising the work of the SCA and for the support of the GNR, PSP and Turismo do Algarve in helping to make the Algarve a “Safe Destination” to visit.