The average spend by motorcaranners is €50 a day over 42 days spent enjoying the Algarve, according to the chairman of the Algarve’s development body, David Santos.
"This is more than €6 million coming to the local economy in a year like 2013 when the Algarve registered an estimated 120,000 visiting motorcaravans. The number may increase in 2014, as the growth rate is estimated at around 15%," said Santos who added that their spending, "helps boost the local economy, especially outside high season as this type of tourism is mainly in the winter months and spring.”
There were only 12 properly structured and regulated motorcaravan parks in the Algarve in 2013 which took in "about 40,000 motorcaravans" although there are 90 locations where they are known to congregate, according to a CCDR monitoring team that has been recording figures since 2008.
A network of properly regulated areas is needed so as to improve the quality for this type of tourist, according to Santos, who commented that "the creation of a network of areas for motorcaravanners, up to European quality standards, is essential to complement the current parks and camping sites. This will help enhance the image and economy of the region."
Santos said that there are more than enough reasons for putting in place a “strategy for accommodating the motorcaravaners," to be coordinated by the CCDR-Algarve in partnership with the Algarve Tourism Board, the Intermunicipal Community of Algarve (AMAL), and associations representing motorcaravaners.
Santos said he is soon to meet up with the mayors’ group - AMAL - as its members will be responsible for solving some of the problems that exist, such as in Silves where recently the council opposed the removal by police of the caravanners in the municipal car park by the river and now has prepared a draft document for creating a properly serviced area for this type of tourist.
The on/off welcome to Silves caravanners seems to have ended as, after the police cleared the site, the council invited the caravanners back with promises of upgrading the area, providing services and charging a small fee per night ‘just to cover costs,’ but in the interim they can stay for free.
