Algarve Nature Week” kicks off in Lagos

There were many students of the 2nd and 3rd cycles of Lagos who, integrated into school groups, could experience the activities offered on the Open Day that inaugurated the 4th Algarve Nature Week.

A program organized by the Algarve Tourism Region, in partnership with the Directorate-General of School Establishments (DGESTE) / Algarve Service Directorate, Lagos Town Hall, which started very early last Friday, April, at Praça do Infante, a place of concentration and departure for the various proposals of nature, from the most radical activities (such as Climbing, Slide, "Arborismo", Wakeboard and Wakeskate), through archery, bike and boat trips, to the more contemplative ones, such as the observation of birds along the coast, made available by companies of tourist animation that also associated with the event.

The most institutional moment of the day happened at 5.30 pm, before the departure to the walk to Ponta da Piedade, in the presence of representatives of the Algarve Tourism Region, Portugal Tourism, DGESTE and the County.

Hugo Pereira, Vice-President of the Lagos Town Hall, was very pleased with the opportunity for Lagos to receive this initiative, which allows us to state that Algarve is not only Sun and Beach and that it has a lot of potential outside the high season, asking of Algarve Tourism and Tourism of Portugal that, in favor of the destination and the region, continue to focus on Nature Tourism.

Desidério Silva, President of the Algarve Tourism Region, recalled that this was the 4th edition of the Algarve Nature Week, an initiative that had its first edition in Faro, passing through Tavira, Loulé and now Lagos, maintaining the goal of, during one week, making available to all what Algarve has best to offer in this area. He also affirmed that what is intended for Algarve is sustainable tourism, which allows to operate more than the 3 or 4 months of the high season, and that generates movement throughout the year. Noting the very encouraging numbers of demand over the last year, which reached more than 17 thousand overnight stays, he underlined the increase in low season, as well as the contribution that Nature Tourism has made to this result, of its main potentialities. The head of Tourism in the region also highlighted the constant networking and partnership, because only then can things change and work.

The Vice-President of Tourism of Portugal, Filipe Silva, finisehd the speeches by congratulating the Lagos City Council for welcoming the initiative and the Region of Tourism for the excellent work of involvement and dynamism evident in this 4th edition of Algarve Nature Week. In his speech, he recalled that 21% of Portuguese territory is located in protected areas and that, in addition to this, there is much more associated with Nature Tourism, to highlight the importance it has for business and for the economy in general terms. He also mentioned the Tourism of Nature within the framework of the Tourism Strategy 2027 - strategic reference for Tourism in Portugal in the next decade and future community support framework for 2021-2027 - which intends to promote the development of new value propositions and new segments, and this event competes for such objectives, since it also leads the local population to look at their territory and understand the importance of leveraging these resources, aiming at a greater sustainability of the business throughout the year.

Lagos citizens and tourists were presented then with the opportunity to participate in a 4.6-kilometer walk to Ponta da Piedade, one of the most beautiful scenarios to watch the sunset in Algarve, recently the object of a municipal intervention, within the framework of which was created a network of pedestrian paths that allows the visitor to enjoy in comfort and safety the unique beauty of this landscape.

Citing the Algarve Tourist Region "until April 22, outdoor experiences will be at an inviting price and promise to bring" a thousand emotions "to those who book them. (...) The activities available in this edition can be consulted and reserved on the official website of the event, where accommodation units are also available for those who want a complete stay in the sunniest destination in Europe. Each hotel or rural tourism partner of the initiative also features an outdoor program for guests, allowing them to spend the night and take tours organized in the Algarve nature. "