Algarve is economically attractive to British holiday makers

With low cost airlines flying from regional airports around the UK, this provides a good business link bringing English tourists to the Algarve, but why are British tourists attracted to luxury villa holidays here?

The scenery in the west of the Algarve is much the same as Devon and Cornwall whose fight for keeping tourism buoyant this summer is equally fierce. What is the reason for this influx of British tourists looking for villas in Portugal, apart from the reliable sunny weather and high temperatures?

The resort of Quinta do Lago is stunningly beautiful with its own nature reserve and golden beach alongside beautiful Quinta do Lago villas.

Research shows that the reason British tourists reject their own tourist resorts is because the Algarve is the most economically attractive region to visit. Sterling is stronger than it was 18 months ago and despite 21% VAT the cost of a family meal out has fallen by 47%. For 85% of Britons, price is the major determining factor in holiday choice.

Five-star hotels, have lowered room prices up to 10%. Tourism is the lifeblood of the Algarve as it is for many places in the UK but it is this financial action taken by the Portuguese that lays a challenge to tourism in the UK.

The Iberian peninsular (a united Spain and Portugal) are making a bid for the World Cup in 2018 and 2022 and Portugal made a great success of the European Cup a few years ago – indeed much of the infrastructure which is allowing tourism here to survive and indeed grow is because of the EU funding Portugal received to build roads, expand the airport and develop hotels.

Portugal, the seemingly poor relative in Europe and one whose economy was named as second most likely to crumble in the wake of Greece’s economy bail out, is actually fighting the recession well and the banks have just passed the stress tests imposed by the Bank of Portugal.

Posted by: Kat Hayter

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