Intrepid tourists in the Algarve managed to clock up 587,000 visits to the region’s tourist offices last year.
Most popular were the offices in Faro, Lagos and Tavira with the regional capital’s refurbished site receiving an average of 1,700 visitors a week.
There were no surprises as to the most busy months, July, August ,September and October, with August logging 91,376 visits.
The regional tourism boss, Desidério Silva, released the figures today and took the opportuinty to say all sorts of pleasant things about the 21 offices and their staff.
Silva said the tourist offices “play an increasingly important role in welcoming those who choose the Algarve for their holidays” and he “believes that going to tourist offices can motivate visitors to return.”
For the head of regional tourism, "the tourist offices have an important role in welcoming tourists and promoting our offer. In them we provide information on themed routes, cultural programmes, heritage, sports activities and useful information to the visitor, in a personalised way. In recent years we have invested in improving the conditions of the outlets and in the provision of new services - most offices already provide free Wi-Fi, for example - and in the training of staff.”
According to a satisfaction survey, users were 'very satisfied' with the service provided by the tourist office staff and highlighted the quality of the service as well as the location and accessibility of the offices, the attention and kindness of the staff and the quality of the materials on offer.
A new tourist office will be opened at Faro Airport, should it ever be finished. The number of passengers using the airport rose 18% last year so it would seem to be a good place for a tourist office to be based.
