In a statement the RTA said the entities all agreed during the meeting that joint action is necessity to ensure the Algarve “confronts and responds to” Brexit.
“The UK is Portugal’s main tourist market, representing 8.3 million annual overnight stays in rated accommodation, and the Algarve is the main destination for British tourists in the country, making up around 70 percent of those stays, which is why it is important for us to maintain confidence in the ability of the [UK’s] agents in continuing to attract the preference of British tourists.”
“On the other hand”, the RTA’s statement continued, “the revenue generated by UK tourists in the region (€1.5 billion of a national total of about €2 billion) represents a significant contribution to the trade balance of goods and services.”
After meeting with partners including the Algarve Inter-municipal Community AMAL, regional tourism association ATA, and the Algarve’s largest hotel association AHETA, it was concluded that tourism in the region during the first six months of this year has been “frankly positive”, both in terms of tourism operations and renegotiating current and future contracts.
“There have been no drops in demand,” the RTA stressed.
“Notwithstanding”, it continued, “it was unanimously agreed that we should strive to draw up joint action, with measures aimed at confronting and responding to possible future impacts of the Brexit.”
These would include, the RTA listed, promoting the Algarve among the British market to consolidate demand from British tourists; keeping on with the strategy to diversify markets, and intensifying bilateral relations with the British community resident in the Algarve, “to strengthen the relationship of trust that has existed since tourism in the Algarve.”