Travellers arriving at Faro airport on Tuesday were greeted by a creative ‘Save Water’ campaign
Travellers arriving at Faro Airport on Tuesday afternoon (July 23) were met with a striking sight: six transparent suitcases, each containing 40 litres of seawater, on the airport’s baggage carousel.
Aiming to symbolise the amount of water each tourist can save daily (40 litres) during their stay in the Algarve, the suitcases are part of the ‘Save Water’ campaign which is being promoted on billboards throughout the Algarve and across digital platforms until the end of the year.
It is also part of the ‘It’s Futourism’ movement, launched by Visit Portugal this year, which calls on the “tourists of the future to travel sustainably, responsibly, and authentically, ensuring a legacy of well-being for the next generations and the planet.”
The event was attended by several key figures, including the Secretary of State for Tourism, Pedro Machado; President of the Algarve Tourism Region, André Gomes; Board Member of Portugal Tourism (Turismo de Portugal), Lídia Monteiro; and ANA Airports COO, Chloé Lapeyre.
Citing data from Portugal’s Energy Agency (ADENE), Algarve tourism boss André Gomes revealed at the event that tourist developments that have voluntarily adopted the ‘Save Water’ label have registered 12% water savings between January and May.
So far, 110 tourist developments in the Algarve – accounting for 31% of the Algarve’s total selection of tourist accommodation – have joined the scheme, 80 of which are already in an “advanced phase of implementing” water-saving measures.
Meanwhile, Albufeira, Loulé, Lagoa and Portimão stand out as the municipalities where the most tourist developments have joined the programme.
“The water challenge in the Algarve has sparked a profound transformation in the tourism sector,” said André Gomes at the event.
“Through the ‘Save Water’ label, we are encouraging innovative practices to reduce water consumption, and our partners’ adhesion shows a strong commitment to sustainability. We believe that by promoting water efficiency and raising awareness about the importance of water, we are building a more sustainable future for the region. Collaboration between everyone is essential to overcoming this challenge and positioning the Algarve as a leader in sustainable tourism”.
Launched in March and running until the end of the year, the Save Water campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance among tourists of “adopting good practices in the use of water during their holidays in the Algarve”.
“The idea is to mobilise visitors to play an active role in conserving this vital resource, encouraging behaviour that can have positive long-term impacts. Water is crucial for the existence of natural ecosystems, the continuation of communities, and the development of economic activities. In the face of its scarcity and the urgency of the situation, tourism can make a significant contribution and play an important role on the road to a sustainable future for the planet,” say tourism authorities in Portugal.
Speaking at the event in Faro on Tuesday, Lídia Monteiro stressed the importance of promoting Portugal as a “sustainable destination” and highlighted the ‘Save Water’ campaign’s role. “Through awareness-raising activities like today’s, we highlight the importance of environmental concern and engage visitors in protecting our water resources. Our goal is to turn every tourist into an active and positive agent in the efficient use of water, contributing to a more sustainable future for all,” Monteiro said.
Secretary of State for Tourism, Pedro Machado, added that “protecting natural resources like water” is a challenge that must be “shared by businesses, public entities, residents, and tourists.”
By MICHAEL BRUXO
michael.bruxo@portugalresident.com
