Turismo do Algarve foresees a very high demand for the MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix and considers that the impact of the motorcycling race in the region goes beyond the 65,000 expected spectators.
In statements to the Portuguese agency, the president of the Algarve Tourism Board (RTA), João Fernandes, considered the number of spectators expected for the opening race of the MotoGP World Championship “very significant”, but stressed that these visitors also Families who take the opportunity to spend the weekend in the south of the country must be added.
“The expectation is really very high, because we are aiming for more than 65,000 spectators, which is very, very significant, in terms of the influx of people to the Algarve, since the majority of spectators come from other regions of Portugal or abroad. ”, he anticipated.
João Fernandes highlighted that, in the three weeks prior to the event, which takes place between Friday and Sunday, at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, the teams were at the Portimonense circuit testing their equipment, with their drivers and support teams, which represents a “very relevant impact” on tourism in the region.
This impact is felt in the western part of the Algarve, but also “up to the Vilamoura area”, located in the central part of the region, in the municipality of Loulé, he noted.
“We are talking about 65,000 people and then there are also many people who, although they do not go to the show, come. For example, family members of fans, where one of the family members goes to the event and others come. here, taking advantage of the week to spend the weekend, “she said.
The demand in the region is, therefore, “greater than the number of spectators” for the race and “does not end at the hotels in the vicinity of the circuit,” he added.
According to João Fernandes, the race once again has an attraction, which is to see the Portuguese rider Miguel Oliveira with a new brand motorcycle (Aprilia, instead of KTM) and with the coincidence that the Grand Prix is the first race. of the 2023 MotoGP World Championship, which allows fans to be “eager” to witness the race after a month of hiatus in the competition.
“We also know that MotoGP packs a punch, not just when it happens, but also because of its ability to advertise destinations. And, on top of that, the track, dubbed a ‘roller coaster’ by fans, hosts the Grand Prix in Portimão. special interest,” he concluded.
Speaking to Lusa, the president of the Association of Hotels and Tourism Companies of the Algarve (AHETA) considered that the event will lead hotels in the Lagos and Portimão areas to have “excellent” occupancy and that the “impact” of the event in the sector you can reach Vilamoura.
“It is this type of event that we have to have in low season, to guarantee an increase in occupancy” in these periods, stressed Hélder Martins.
MotoGP is the queen category of the speed motorcycle World Championship, whose championship starts this weekend in Portugal.
The Moto2 and Moto3 categories are the others that are at stake.
Source: TSF
