Sunday, September 28, 2008
Coastline Conundrum?
The news recently included information about the proposed new marina at Ferragudo.
Although it's really just a small fishing village, it's obviously smarting from the success of its rival-across-the-water, Portimao / Praia da Rocha.
The plans as published are extensive and will inevitably alter the nature of the place - probably irrevocably.
I suppose that it's part of Algarve's strategy to attract a wealthier sort of tourist: certainly, the sort of folk who own or rent large boats are likelier to have more money than the rest of us...
The trick is to keep them returning, of course. And one thing I've noticed about ships (or boats or whatever they're called) is that you can take them anywhere that has water.
I suppose the credit crunch is going to result in less visitors to Ferragudo in the next few years, but will the sailors it hopes to attract (if and when the marina is complete) repay the vast amount of money it'll cost?
Answers (if you're a trained economist) on a postcard to Algarve Beach Life - and thank you in advance for sharing your knowledge.
Although it's really just a small fishing village, it's obviously smarting from the success of its rival-across-the-water, Portimao / Praia da Rocha.
The plans as published are extensive and will inevitably alter the nature of the place - probably irrevocably.
I suppose that it's part of Algarve's strategy to attract a wealthier sort of tourist: certainly, the sort of folk who own or rent large boats are likelier to have more money than the rest of us...
The trick is to keep them returning, of course. And one thing I've noticed about ships (or boats or whatever they're called) is that you can take them anywhere that has water.
I suppose the credit crunch is going to result in less visitors to Ferragudo in the next few years, but will the sailors it hopes to attract (if and when the marina is complete) repay the vast amount of money it'll cost?
Answers (if you're a trained economist) on a postcard to Algarve Beach Life - and thank you in advance for sharing your knowledge.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Tourist Blues
I keep reading different accounts of what's going on in the tourism world, now that the Credit Crunch is a reality on both sides of the Atlantic.
One camp has it that Algarve Tourism is likely to suffer badly because of the Pound Sterling's slide against the Euro (15% in the last year!)
The other body of opinion is that the fuel surcharges will slam transatlantic flights, affecting Brazil, Venezuela, California and Florida among other popular destinations.
Rather like when the next General Election is going to be held, or whether the banks will increase interest rates or reduce them, there seem to be as many shades of opinion as there are grains of sand on Algarve beaches.
One thing's for sure, there must be some real bargains to be had out there, if those villas, apartments and hotels aren't getting their quota of tourists. Could be just the time to bag a great value Algarve vacation!
One camp has it that Algarve Tourism is likely to suffer badly because of the Pound Sterling's slide against the Euro (15% in the last year!)
The other body of opinion is that the fuel surcharges will slam transatlantic flights, affecting Brazil, Venezuela, California and Florida among other popular destinations.
Rather like when the next General Election is going to be held, or whether the banks will increase interest rates or reduce them, there seem to be as many shades of opinion as there are grains of sand on Algarve beaches.
One thing's for sure, there must be some real bargains to be had out there, if those villas, apartments and hotels aren't getting their quota of tourists. Could be just the time to bag a great value Algarve vacation!
