AlgarveAlgarve tourism bosses are planning to improve the region’s cultural landscape in a bid to beat seasonality and increase the number of visitors to the area.

Desidério Silva, the head of the Algarve Tourism Board (RTA), and the Algarve’s regional director for culture, Alexandra Gonçalves, recently met up to discuss the area’s tourism, religion and culture.

One of the main objectives to come out of this meeting was the aim not just to increase the number of people going on singles holidays in 2014 to the Algarve and the number of families visiting the region, but to use “cultural tourism” to beat seasonality and attract holidaymakers all year round.

This project has already got underway with the Mediterranean Diet being classified as a piece of “Intangible Cultural Heritage” by UNESCO, as well as the Algarve now promoting the Islamic presence in the Algarve.

Desidério Silva told a local newspaper, “One of the first steps will be identifying, through the Regional Board for Culture, cultural resources that could boost tourist activity.”

Further plans include opening times for local museums and monuments being extended.

Image Credit: Sue (flickr.com)