Algarve Nature Tourism Biennial

Costa Vicentina is one of the few still wild and untamed Portuguese tourism zones. However, there has nevertheless been an exponential increase in tourist numbers in recent years.
In order to bring about sustainable economic growth in the sector, Vicentina (1), in partnership with other regional associations, designed the ‘Nature Tourism Biennial’, held this year on September 26, 27 and 28 in the Aljezur multipurpose pavilion.
According to the Vicentina Vice-President, Aura Fraga, “the event not only serves as a showcase of these tourism services to a mass public but also strives in parallel to demonstrate the potential of tourism activities allied to nature as well as forming strategic partnerships whether with other Portuguese locations or other parts of the planet”.
Within this framework, in addition to the exhibiting of regional firms and producers, there is also scope for the sharing of knowledge with national and international guest speakers in order to best foster interconnected development solutions for Costa Vicentina without incurring any damage to nature. Thus, the 2014 ‘Nature Tourism Biennial’ correspondingly features not only traditional regional products, both gastronomic (such as yams and medronho spirit) and artisan (such as basket weaving) but also participants from fields including surfing, mountain biking, hiking and bird watching.
Increasingly more than just a beach destination, this is yet another step towards the Algarve proving itself as a region with its own environmental, cultural and historical interest.

About the author

Hugo Filipe Lopes:Has a degree in sociology and a post-graduate qualification in clinical nutrition from the Egas Moniz Faculty. Collaborates with a number of online publications, a trainer and nutritional therapist. Honourable mentions in the Casa da Imprensa and Lisboa à Letra competitions..