Monday, October 08, 2007
O Futuro de Albufeira
I read where the popularly-elected mayor of Albufeira states that he thinks he's spotted a better class of tourist this year...
Presumably, more of them are wearing top hats and Eton collars? I think his comment refers to the type of tourist that spends more, stays at 5-star hotels and eats at more expensive restaurants.
Whether that's the life-blood of Albufeira in the future I don't know. I can see how fewer people using the local services while spending more per head would suit the local authority, but I can't imagine the owners of bed-and-breakfast establishments, pensões, and private apartments would necessarily agree!
Just to show that his heart's in the right place really, Sr. Silva (the aforementioned mayor) points out that in the ongoing struggle between local authorities and national government, he doesn't always see eye-to-eye with Prime Minister Socrates.
In particular, he thinks that central government will eventually impose road tolls on major highways like the A22 (Via do Infante east-west motorway). This in spite of the governing party's opposition to such tolls before it came to power. (Ah, that refrain repeated throughout the entire democratic world...)
Asked whether loss of votes within the region might worry the Government, Sr. Silva is quoted as opining that there aren't enough votes in the region to bother the men in power. This is because larger cities like Sintra contain more votes than does the whole of Algarve.
Despite which, the mayor seemed fairly upbeat about the future of Albufeira, where new hospitals and shopping complexes can be expected in the next few years. He was also proud of the Albufeira area's 15 Blue Flag beaches, and its ability to cope with visitor influxes that peak at 800% of the city's normal populace.
You bet, Sr. Silva - vive Albufeira!
Presumably, more of them are wearing top hats and Eton collars? I think his comment refers to the type of tourist that spends more, stays at 5-star hotels and eats at more expensive restaurants.
Just the sort of scruffy, low-rent tourist
that Albufeira won't miss...?
that Albufeira won't miss...?
Whether that's the life-blood of Albufeira in the future I don't know. I can see how fewer people using the local services while spending more per head would suit the local authority, but I can't imagine the owners of bed-and-breakfast establishments, pensões, and private apartments would necessarily agree!
Just to show that his heart's in the right place really, Sr. Silva (the aforementioned mayor) points out that in the ongoing struggle between local authorities and national government, he doesn't always see eye-to-eye with Prime Minister Socrates.
In particular, he thinks that central government will eventually impose road tolls on major highways like the A22 (Via do Infante east-west motorway). This in spite of the governing party's opposition to such tolls before it came to power. (Ah, that refrain repeated throughout the entire democratic world...)
Asked whether loss of votes within the region might worry the Government, Sr. Silva is quoted as opining that there aren't enough votes in the region to bother the men in power. This is because larger cities like Sintra contain more votes than does the whole of Algarve.
Despite which, the mayor seemed fairly upbeat about the future of Albufeira, where new hospitals and shopping complexes can be expected in the next few years. He was also proud of the Albufeira area's 15 Blue Flag beaches, and its ability to cope with visitor influxes that peak at 800% of the city's normal populace.
You bet, Sr. Silva - vive Albufeira!
Labels: Albufeira, algarve tourism
