With financing from the national tourism board, Turismo de Portugal, the programme is being developed by the State Secretaries for Culture and Tourism and aims to cover from October 2016 to May 2017.
Concerning events promoted by local councils, newspaper Correio da Manhã reported, the government will co-finance the events with up to 70 percent of the investment.
“This initiative will allow for a year-round cultural agenda”, said Jorge Botelho, president of the Algarve Inter-Municipal Community, adding “travel agents will be able to offer packages structured around cultural events.”
Mr. Botelho stressed that the programme means visitors to the Algarve in winter will always have one event or another to look forward to.
“The objective is to have fewer hotels closing during low season”, he said.
The programme aims to include local cultural and artistic set-ups, like orchestras, and to create alternative tourist routes that take in places of interest such as churches.