Faro is going all out to attract health and wellness tourism and reduce bureaucracy in order to prompt local investment.
Addressing a conference of the Portuguese Association of Hospital Hospitality (APHH), Faro’s new Mayor Rogério Bacalhau (pictured) said: “Faro is one of the municipalities with the best grounds to become a destination in the tourism sector of health and wellness.”
He backed up his statement naming a number of infrastructures that could attract investors: Faro Airport, the regional hospital centre, the municipality’s array of sports establishments, the university with its courses in Medicine, as well as a city rich in historic heritage.
He also highlighted the soon-to-be inaugurated Parque Ribeirinho, which promises to redefine the city’s connection to its Ria Formosa estuary, as well as the city’s gamut of theatres, cinemas, commerce, beauty shops, rural parishes and countryside areas.
All these are pivotal to putting Faro fair and square on the map for health and wellness tourism.
Bacalhau stressed the city must now work towards presenting itself as an attractive possibility for investors.
“The town hall will do everything in its power to reduce bureaucracy and attract potential investors. We are ready to offer information and support concerning financial incentives and licensing, and make sure that each project that is born in Faro is supported by simple and non-bureaucratic administrative services.”
Health and wellness tourism is currently considered one of the most promising touristic activities in Portugal. The government has declared it “a strategic sector”, but it still only accounts for 1.9% of total revenue.
