January Algarve road deaths fifth highest in Portugal

INEM125The January road death toll in the Algarve was higher this January than in 2017 with five people killed and 10 seriously injured in road accidents.
 
The National Road Safety Authority’s figures show one more death and four more seriously injured road users than over the same period last year.

Algarve - British tourist numbers drop in January

airplane2The number of British tourists in the Algarve's hotels fell 19.4% in January this year, compared to the same month in 2017, according to data released by the region’s tourist association, AHETA.
 
The average overall occupancy rate was 35.7%, a drop of only 0.3 of a percentage point than in last January.
 

Building of new homes - "it's inevitable" says APEMIP president

apartmentsMore than 80% of homes in Portugal were sold in less than six months, according to data from the estate agents association, APEMIP, issued on Monday, February 5th.
 
According to the APEMIP barometer, referring to December 2017, "the Portuguese real estate sector is showing a dynamism that has not been seen for a long time, especially in the housing segment."

VRSA starts sports complex development

vrsa2Vila Real de Santo António council is pressing ahead with the redevelopment of the south side of the city with the construction of new sports facilities.
 
The ambitious project will see the construction of three new sports areas and a retail area where 40 jobs are predicted.

Ferragudo redevelopment - fishermen “will be reorganised and integrated into the urban design"

ferragudoLagoa council has launched an ambitious project to turn the fishing village of Ferragudo into a tourist-friendly showpiece of modern urban planning in a major redevelopment under a Porto-based consultancy, mobility now.
 
To solve the parking problem, the council is to build a 200-space car park near the health centre. This multi-storey building will cost an estimated €600,000 and will house a bus terminal and taxi zone, “just a few hundred metres from the riverside area.”

Police nab 255 pet owners in Operation Odeta

dogTrainingThe police operation last week, to make sure that pet owners were following a raft of new laws, resulted in more than 1,700 ‘awareness-raising and enforcement actions.’
 
More than 1,500 people with dangerous or potentially dangerous dogs were advised of the safety laws and cautioned, with an additional 255 people marked down with offences.   

SOS Ria Formosa representatives visit President's palace

riaFormosaNighttimeSOS Ria Formosa Movement spokesmen went to the president’s palace in Belém today, Monday 5th of February, for a 3pm meeting.
 
Two representatives representing Ria Formosa island locals, José Lezinho and Vanessa Morgado, were received by the advisor responsible for the environment, Nuno Sampaio.

Sugar Tax has raised soft drink prices by 25 - 30%

cocacolaA year after the ‘sugar tax’ was imposed on soft drinks and juices, the industry claims that sales have fallen by 5% and retail prices of targeted products have risen 25% to 30%.
 
Last year’s State Budget predicted a tax contribution from the sector of an additional €80 million to be credited to the national health service - the final amount was €69.63 million.