According to AHETA, the region’s tourism potential and the air transport business should be seen as two sides of the same coin and as such they should not only be viewed together but also walk hand-in-hand. However, in recent years the two sides of the coin have been going their separate ways and this has to be brought to a point of balance as soon as possible so as to better support the Algarve economy.

We have to mention that some measures have been taken which are meant to attract tourists to the Algarve with air companies such as Ryanair and EasyJet offering low-cost flights to Faro Airport, it has become apparent that one has to maximize the hotel and resort occupation throughout the entire year in order to keep the local economies from dipping too much during the off-season.

It is quite clear – at least to the AHETA members – that the Algarve needs to regain its level of competitiveness and profitability from a few years ago, and the focus on air flight accessibility is vital to reach this goal.

It is apparent that the Faro Airport needs to be connected to several more airport hubs in Europe, and this fundamental step must be made in order to develop and raise the profits in business tourism, golf tourism and obviously all the other related industries and activities that find it hard to keep running during the low and medium seasons. In the past couple of years, many Algarve businesses – especially hotels – have been closing their doors during the winter months due to a lack of tourists.

Most people will know by now that the Algarve is quite well known both in the Europe as well as all around the world for being a great tourist destination for those looking for sun, sand and wonderful weather all year-round.

That is still true however recently it appears that the Algarve will start being promoted as a health and wellbeing destination as well.

The first Congress on Health and Wellbeing Tourism took place in Faro on 9 November and it spawned the idea of promoting the Algarve region as an ideal destination for health and wellbeing as a way of attracting more tourists to the region and as a way of fighting growing unemployment.

The event consisted of the first general assembly of the Portuguese Association for health and Wellbeing Tourism, during which its commission for this new organization was also formed.

The  association was built on a national level and it will include members from throughout the country, including the islands of Madeira and the Azores, and also take into consideration the various sub-products related to health and wellbeing tourism.

The goal of the association is to improve the position of the region’s tourist appeal as a way of attracting more tourists to the region. By doing this they wish to boost profits for the partners that join the association and at the same time stimulate employment.

The thinking behind it is that as unemployment rises, so does criminality, and an increase in criminality will then have a negative effect on the tourism which would then spiral continuously downward.

Now this might be a bit odd considering how the concept of health and wellbeing tourism is linked with the private sector however the public sector has a very important role to carry out as well by guaranteeing the safety of the destination.

This is expected to have an effect on all the businesses in the region, including the Algarve car rental one.

Many holidaymakers return to Albufeira city Portugal when they’re looking for a specific type of atmosphere which mixes great climate, lovely beaches and a plethora of eating establishments.

There are some who call Albufeira the St. Tropez of Portugal, while one must maintain the proportions in mind when making such a comparison, one also has to acknowledge that there are some similarities between the two. Our Albufeira city guide won’t talk about all of them however we will focus on a general outlook of the city.

The ex-fishing village is situated in the central part of the Algarve region, at about a thirty minute drive from Faro Airport, thankfully there are many Albufeira transfers from Faro Airport available for those interested in getting there quickly and in safe comfort.

Albufeira city

For those who have visited a bit of North Africa, coming here will offer a very interesting experience seeing as how Albufeira looks quite a bit like a village from that region. The city is home to one of the greatest beach-side tourist developments in the entire country, not only the region, however you don’t have to stay here if you don’t want to, the nearby locations of Quarteira and Almancilalso offer some great accommodation options.

On the other hand you could have a wonderful vacation and never leave the town or its surroundings, in such a case considering some Albufeira car hire services might prove to be a great idea, especially if you’re planning on cooking your own meals and if you wish to have the same flexibility of movement that you have at home.

Being the largest resort in the Algarve, Albufeira didn’t get that reputation for nothing, the wide variety of attractions, sights and activities that the place offers is appealing to a wide range of travellers, of all ages.

The city is split into two entities, the ‘old’ and the ‘new’, the first offering history and tranquillity while the other a constantly humming nightlife. Add to this some of the finest beaches on the continent, and couple it with the great weather, plus the local culture, one can understand why the atmosphere here is much sought after by travellers and holidaymakers of different ages and backgrounds.

Of course, considering the resort’s size and the plethora of offerings it has, one cannot think that it does not cater to those who love to shop while they’re on vacation. For those looking for some ‘retail therapy’ after a few days of lounging on the beach, rest assured that Albufeira’s main shopping street of Rua 5 de Outubro has pretty much anything that you may want or need, from a new outfit that you can wear on a night out in Albufeira to presents for your family and friends back home.

The resort doesn’t only offer great beaches, and wonderful eateries, golfing enthusiasts will also have a chance to play a solid number of holes at the Pine Cliffs or again, can take a ride to one of the top notch courses around Quarteira, like the Vila Sol and Vilamoura Old Course.

Albufeira guide – Albufeira beach Art

As far as the more traditional idea of an attraction goes, Albufeira has a few interesting places that will be ideal for a large percentage of visitors. For instance those who are traveling with their children will surely have to visit the Zoo Marine and the variety of water parks which can be found in and around the city.

More adventurous adults may want to visit Monchique and Foia, which are the highest points in the region, the views from here amaze every time, without fail. While on this trip make sure to check out a few local specialties, such as Medronho – a traditional alcoholic beverage – and Honey Cake, both of which are worth trying.

This has been just a quick look at what Albufeira has to offer its visitors, rest assured that once you’re there, you will surely find many more things to see and do.

One of the main reasons why Portugal is such a popular holiday destination is its absolutely wonderful climate. The average summer temperature hovers around thirty degrees Centigrade and while that may not sound like anything special since in the summertime it’s hot in most temperate zones and most of Europe.

The great weather is just part of Portugal’s popularity

There are so many other factors which make it a great holiday destination

Portugal Beach

It deserves mention that in those regions the average temperature might jump well over thirty and that makes for a solid amount of discomfort so an average summer temperature of thirty is great. Also coupled with this is the average winter temperature in Portugal which never falls below fifteen degrees Centigrade very often, and while that may not sound like anything special, one has to consider the average temperature in the rest of Europe during the winter months in order to truly appreciate it.

Now the great weather would be enough of a pull to visit a foreign country but that’s hardly the only thing that attracts people to Portugal, its other great feature is its eight hundred and fifty kilometers of coastline which offer some of the best beaches and resorts on the globe.

While the entire country has many attractions and interesting sights, when it comes to the best combination of weather and geography, that would be the Algarve region, which is situated in the southernmost part of the country.

The Algarve itself is possibly the most visited region in Europe, if not the world, and for good reasons because it features the most spectacular beaches possibly on the entire Mediterranean coast.

There are several places where you can start your Portugal adventure, however some of the more popular arrival destinations are Lisbon, Faro and Madeira. Their airports are very accessible from pretty much anywhere else in Europe or the rest of the world so that is part of why they are popular. The other part has to do with the fact that they themselves are interesting places to visit on their own, Faro for instance being used as something of a gateway to the Algarve for many tourists but it is also an attraction on its own.

The whitewashed buildings and cobbled streets coupled with plenty of museums make for a great introduction to the country as well as a good stepping-off point for other destinations in the Algarve region.

Portugal offers a lot of holidaying option to its visitors and it has something for everyone, it all depends on what it is that you are looking for when traveling to a foreign country. If you’re interested in lounging on a beach, soaking in the sun and enjoying some water sports then surely you can find it here; if you’re interested in having a more family-oriented relaxing trip in which you can explore the country’s culture, traditions and history, Portugal has that as well; if you happen to be a golfer, the Algarve region especially has over thirty world-class golf courses which await your swing.

Whether it’s summer or winter in your home country you can rest assured that the weather in Portugal will be at least fair and depending on what your goals and preferences are you can surely find a region or a particular place in the country that satisfies them, so make sure to strongly consider Portugal as the destination for your next holiday.

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Portugal is a very popular tourist destination amongst Europeans and Brits especially, but oftentimes most of the attention is directed at the southern region of the Algarve as that is the most popular, but the northern regions shouldn’t be overlooked when planning a trip there. The city of Porto for instance, is located in the north of the country and is a rather interesting tourist destination for several reasons.

 

The city of Porto

Porto Portugal

The city is most well known for the fact that it has given its name to a type of wine made from the local vineyards, the world renown Port wine, but Porto is a busy industrial and commercial center as well as being quite a great place for a holiday.

The city is built along the hills which overlook the Duoro river estuary and it has been continuously inhabited since at least the 4th century, the Romans referring to it as Portus Calle.

The city has always benefited from great weather, even though due to the influences of the Atlantic ocean it is considerably cooler than other cities within the same climate type; this has also made it a mercantile city and this is most evident in the style of the buildings which line the Avenida dos Aliados which is at the center of the downtown area. As opposed to most other old centers in Portugal who tend towards the Baroque style of architecture, the old center of Porto is populated with monumental granite buildings which reflect the increased wealth of its inhabitants.

Historically speaking, the city is known to some as “a Cidade Invicta”, which means the invincible city, a title bestowed upon it by Porto’s resistance against Napoleonic troops during the Peninsular war.

The city’s main tourist attractions can be found off the Avenida dos Aliados, the Rua Santa Catarina and the Rua Clube dos Denianos.

Another idea would be to start your sightseeing in Porto with the river front Ribeira area, where you can join cruises on the Duoro river in traditional boats which were once used to ferry the wine from the vineyards. On a nearby hilltop you’ll find the 12th century Porto Cathedral which resembles a fortress and then after visiting that you can straight up hit the Praca da Ribeira which is a short walk away. In order to get some great views of the city you should also visit the Torre dos Clerigos which is also close to the Avenida dos Aliados.

As far as the architecture of the entire city goes, Porto is rather varied, with medieval and modern structures side by side but while it is pleasant to the eye, the city’s geography can be a bit hard on one’s feet since it is built in a hilly region and in fact several buildings are actually built into the cliff face which overlooks the river.

The locals are very friendly to outsiders, they are actually known in the region as Tripeiros because it is said that the entire city subsisted on tripe soup so that all the meat could provision the fleet left to conquer Ceuta in 1415, tripe soup has remained a specialty of the city till this day.

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The Spanish city of Alicante is probably one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, mostly due to it being a very popular tourist destination seeing not only lots of visitors from within its own borders but also quite a lot from the rest of Europe.

Enjoy the sun, sea and sand in Alicante

Alicante has something for everybody

Alicante is indeed a very popular tourist destination, however it should also be noted that it is also a historic Mediterranean port city as well, and as such it is also a commercial town with services and public administration playing an important role in its economy.

Costa Blanca

Alicante is endowed with great weather and some of the best beaches in the world, the beaches of the Costa Blanca, however it is also an important wine producer as well, the region being known for growing the Moscatel and Monastrell grape varieties.

The area in and around the city of Alicante has been inhabited by many thousands of years and the first fortified settlement came about in the 3rd century BC during the wars between Carthage and Rome.

Since that moment, the settlement continued to expand regardless of the leadership of the region which changed hands quite a few times in the following millennia. However the city couldn’t have maintained its status and continue to develop if it didn’t constantly change and adapt itself to the economic realities of any particular era.

For instance, a relatively recent example of this is how the port of Alicante transformed itself into on of the most important cruise ports in the country after most of its mercantile traffic was attracted by the nearby Valencia harbor.

Due to it being a port city one has to assume that it also has access to a certain amount of beach area, and that assumption would be rather correct. Alicante actually has a beach located at the center of the city, it is called Postiguet Beach and while popular during the day, once night falls it all becomes a bit of a surreal sight as it is illuminated by sodium street lights. That’s just one example of course, a little bit farther away you’ll find the San Juan Beach which is seven kilometers long and is considered to be one of the best in the country.

However Alicante offers much more to its visitors than just great beaches, in fact it features quite a few great attractions starting with the Castle of Santa Barbara, one of the largest medieval fortresses in the country. The fortification was built in the 9th century by the Moorish conquerors of the region, another similar attraction albeit more recent is the Castle of San Fernando which is located on Tossal Hill. Some other sights that you may be interested in visiting are the Concatedral de San Nicolas de Bari and the Baroque-style Casa de La Asegurada.

Depending on your goal when visiting the city you can either rent a car in Alicante or make use of some Alicante transfer services in order to get from the airport to your accommodations or anywhere else around the region, rest assured that you will not regret the flexibility of having a car at your disposal during your stay there.

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The Algarve region of Portugal is considered by many to be the perfect holiday destination thanks to its great mix of characteristics. The Algarve has absolutely wonderful weather, modern amenities which make for a truly luxurious holiday experience, it is very family-oriented but it also offers a vibrant nightlife, great opportunities for practicing sports and other outdoor activities and last but not least, great food.

The Algarve packs a lot of fun for young and old alike

Algarve Beach

The way in which this happens is thanks to the size of the region itself, a bit over two thousand square miles, and directly linked to this the number of various resorts, villages and cities that dot its coastline and landscape.

As mentioned earlier, the reason why the Algarve is such a popular tourist destination is due to a combination of factors, main among these factors being the weather, however its location in Europe helps as well since it is reachable from most any spot in Europe in more or less three hours by plane.

Also, once you get there, regardless which airport in the region you touch down at, you are only a couple of minutes away from your accommodations by car, and whether you choose to rent a car while there or to employ some airport transfer services, they will all prove to be very good value for money.

The truth of the matter is that many people visit the Algarve because it offers such a wide variety of attractions, starting with the great weather – over three thousand hours of sunshine per year – continuing with the almost two hundred kilometers of great, clean beaches – which themselves can be categorized further – and of course you have to add to these the unique culture and history of the region, the great food and last but not least, the amazing golfing opportunities the region offers.

While the Algarve is a warm and sunny place for most of its visitors, for a serious percentage of those it is one of the premiere spots on the globe for their sport of choice, golf.

There are over thirty world-class golf courses that can be found in the region, most of them not more than a quarter of an hour’s drive from a main resort or city. In fact golfing is so huge in the region that you can employ special golf transfer services to take you to and from specific golf courses throughout the day, not to mention the services which allow you to rent golf clubs for your stay. And make no mistake about it, any golf enthusiast you will need these types of Algarve transfer services because there are so many courses to try out, you will not be satisfied with just the few that are in close proximity to your accommodation.

The great thing about the Algarve is that it is not just about one or two things, it’s not just about the golf, or the sunny weather, or the great beaches, it is about all those things together and much more that makes it such a popular holiday destination with people of all ages and interests.

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The sunny shores of Spain offer a wonderful mix of great weather, rich culture, wonderful beaches and many world renowned attractions. This Iberian country has given the world Don Quixote, Pablo Picasso, bullfights, flamenco dancing and so much more that visiting it can only result in a great experience.

Spain’s popularity as a tourist destination stems from its diversity

Read a little bit about what you can expect from a Spanish holiday

Spain

Spain is a very popular tourist destination both for other Europeans as well as tourists from around the globe; considering the size of the place it should also be noted that Spain is popular for different reasons to different people, some will come to enjoy the weather and the beach resorts, others will be interested in the culture and history of the place, while others will be more interested in seeing some football (soccer) matches from some of the best teams in the world, all of these things and more can be found within the boundaries of Spain.

Those who fall in love with the country know that there are many facets to it, as is true about any other place on the face of the Earth, so many choose to repeatedly visit Spain or even retire there in order to enjoy the weather and its diverse range of attractions. However, for the first-time visitor to Spain, he or she might want to start with one of the main cities to visit first such as Madrid or Barcelona. Not to say that those are the only places that you could visit, far from it, there are many others such as Bibloa, Granada, Valencia, Andalucia and the list could continue, however those two can be great starting places for you to get introduced to Spain.

Madrid is the country’s capital and its largest city, it is defined by its ancient and medieval history and as such is well known for its artistic and cultural heritage as evidenced by the many great museums that you can find there.

Museo del Prado has one of the greatest art collections in the world and this isn’t true just for Spanish art, their Flemish and Dutch, Italian and German collections are just as world-class.

The Museo del Prado is part of the so called Golden Museum Triangle, alongside the Reina Sofia National Museum and Art Center where you’ll find some of the best collections of modern art, and the Theyssen-Bornemisza Museum of Art which features a varied and large collection of art including several masterpieces by the greats such as Renoir, Van Gogh, Picasso and Bacon.

Barcelona is Spain’s second-largest city, and while it is also an old city deeply steeped in its history, it is also a place where modern design concepts permeate all aspects of life. This is due to Barcelona being the host of the 1992 Olympic games which brought a huge number of tourists to the city and the effects of that event can still be felt today in the upper mentioned modern design as well as in the renovation of entire neighborhoods or leveling of others. Barcelona is an old city yet with a very modern look, a place where the 21st century meets the ancient while also preserving and celebrating it.

These two don’t even scratch the surface of The Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, or the Balearic Islands or Spains great food, all you can do is visit the place and see it all for yourself.

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