The President of Alentejo and Ribatejo Tourism Department, Antonio Ceia da Silva, expects 2014 “to be the best Touristic Year ever in Alentejo” considering the National Statistics Institute figures as well the feedback from other agents.

It also mentions that “ four years out of five, all had a positive growth” and 2014 can be even more successful than 2009 and 2010.

Ceia da Silva mentions that the only negative year was 2012 since the region is “still very much dependent on the National Market”.

The president of the Alentejo Tourism refers to the Agencia Lusa that besides the increase in the accommodation numbers, which has been having a 7% increase each year, the ranking of the accommodation has been increasing too with more opening of 5 stars hotels in the region. “ There is an improvement in the Quality” summarizes the President guaranteeing that people no longer relate Alentejo to just “hot and yellow” but to “green, nature and water”.

In this year of “no funds from EU”, the region will set plans to improve the infrastructures, accessibility, beach support and also the nautical tourism.

According to the data from the Tourism Department, about 75% of the people that choose Alentejo are families, reason why there is an increasing support in an “integrated strategic network” of promoting services such as Aquatic Parks.