The Algarve’s Councils have set aside more than €500,000 to cheer up their shopping streets with Christmas lights this year.
In most municipalities, the lights will switched on at the beginning of December to get shoppers in the festive mood and boost retail sales.
Albufeira, Faro and Portimão Councils are the big spenders this year, with fiscally embarrassed Vila Real de Santo António reducing expenditure on such fripperies as part of a serious cost-cutting effort.
In Albufeira, the region’s main tourist area come Christmas and New Year, the municipality already has contracted a private company to install decorative Christmas lighting on 30 roads and roundabouts in the area.
Albufeira’s lighting will be on display from November 23 and turned off on January 6, 2019.