About Us

The East Algarve is a sub-region that, until recently, was on the sidelines of development plans for the Algarve. The consequences of this lack of dynamism are visible not only in the quality and quantity of tourist infrastructure and the surrounding areas but also in the flow of tourists which is concentrated essentially in the months of July and August.

Recent economic development and the appearance of major investments in this sub-region meant that it became necessary to set up an association with the aim of promoting the sustained development of tourism in the East Algarve, positioning it as a new tourist destination.

The ASA thus brought together a group of local businesspeople and residents who drew up a promotional strategy to arouse interest in this destination in potential markets, thus stimulating the development of new flows of tourists, focussing on the most important products i.e. Sun and Beach, Golf, Culture, Sport and Congresses and Incentives.

The Association began operating in October 2003 and the work that has been done has shown positive results with an increase in the number of tourists visiting this area and the East Algarve becoming better known.

In November 2004, the ASA saw its efforts recognised when the regional sub-brand East Algarve was approved and the PAE Sotavento Algarvio (Specific Promotion Programme) was established.

The work of the East Algarve Promotion Bureau focuses essentially on six major areas: Participation in Fairs, Roadshows and Workshops; Organisation of Educational Visits; Publicity and Campaigns; Production of Publicity Materials, Give-Aways and Merchandising; Public Relations Activities and Support for Events.

At present the ASA has 200 members representing different sectors in East Algarve, covering areas such as the hotel trade, golf, restaurants, shops, real estate, car hire and others.

Our statutes

Article 1.º -

§ 1 – The Association is a body with no profit-making purpose and with the characteristics of a public utility; it is named the “Associação Sotavento Algarvio” (East Algarve Promotion Bureau), has its head office in the city of Tavira in the parish of Santa Maria, in Vale Caranguejo, Centro de Escritórios de Vale Caranguejo, Room 6, and it is constituted for an indeterminate period starting today.

§ 2 – The head office can be changed to any other place by decision of the management.

Article 2.º - The aim of the Association is to support ordered development, the improvement in quality of the Municipalities of the East Algarve and the promotion of its image nationally and internationally, by means of initiatives taken in isolation or in conjunction with other bodies with the aim of highlighting the historical, environmental, cultural and humanistic, sporting and human merits of the municipalities, stimulating the work of their organisations and promoting sustained tourist and economic development.

Article 3.º - All members pay a registration fee and agree to contribute with an annual subscription, the amount to be determined by the General Assembly.

Article 4.º - The bodies of the Association are:
a) the General Assembly
b) the Board of Directors consisting of an uneven number of members
c) the Accounts Revision Committee consisting of three members

Article 5º - Each member will contribute a subscription to be defined in the internal regulations.

Article 6º - The operation of the Association and the powers of its different committees will be defined by its Internal Regulations to be approved by the General Assembly and by the applicable legal provisions.

Governing Bodies

Three-year period 2006-2009

Management Committee
António Manuel Almeida Pires – Benamor, Actividades Turísticas, S.A.
José Lisboa – Quinta da Ria, S.A.
José Pedro Queiroga Valentim – Pedras D’El Rei, S.A.
José António Bastos - Vila Galé S.A.
Madalena Nina – Irmãos Viegas, Lda.
Américo Solipa
José Gonçalves Viana
Mário Domingos – MD Group Hotels
Fernando Martins – Câmara Municipal de Olhão
Vitalino Brás – Hotel Baía de Monte Gordo, S.A.
Maria Augusta Tamissa – Casa de Cacela, Agro-turismo, Lda.

General Assembly
Carlos Lopes
Carlos Barros – CONDIANA – Construtora do Guadiana, S.A.
Rui Horta – Rui Horta, Escritório de Advogados

Fiscal Council
Orlando Lopes – Mogal – Investimentos Hoteleiros e Turísticos, S.A.
César Raposo – Bajomico, Organizações Hoteleiras e Similares, Lda.
Mário Botelho – Viagens Laranja, Lda.

Contacts

East Algarve Promotion Bureau
Rua D. Marcelino Franco, n.º 22
8800 – 347 Tavira
Algarve - Portugal
Tel. / Fax: +351 281 381 963
e-mail: info@eastalgarve.pt
www.sotaventoalgarvio.com
www.eastalgarve.com