Row over hotel sector statistics
Updated: 23-Jul-2010
| -[45105].res.jpg "Elidérico Viegas, president of the Algarve hotels and resorts association AHETA. Photo: IBERIAIMAGES.COM")
Elidérico Viegas, president of the Algarve hotels and resorts association AHETA. Photo: IBERIAIMAGES.COM
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Hotel statistics issued by the Algarve Tourism Board have been described as “a joke” and “forced positivism” by the region’s hotels and resorts association.
The attack follows an announcement by the Algarve Tourism Board (ERTA) that revenue from the hotel sector increased by 11.9 per cent in May, contrary to the previously announced figures from the Algarve hotels and resorts association (AHETA), which showed a fall of 9.5 per cent in the same month compared with the same period last year.
An ERTA statement said: “Results revealed by Portugal’s National Statistics Institute (INE) about the revenue achieved in the hotel sector in the Algarve are positive, contrary to AHETA figures which actually indicated a decrease.”
The figures released by ERTA, and collated by INE, show the Algarve as having the best performance among all the tourist areas of Portugal.
However, the president of AHETA Elidérico Viegas told the Algarve Resident: “The INE report for May this year actually found a three per cent drop in revenue rates, which is contradictory to the ERTA statement.
“This is forced positivism by ERTA. Early indications for June show a fall of 2.8 per cent in comparison to the same month last year and the prospects for this summer are very bleak. If they do not know how to produce statistical data, they could have asked us and we would have shown it to them.” He added: “Enough with this joke. ERTA handled provisory data from INE that does not have any technical accuracy. They have used this information to denigrate our image.
“ERTA does not represent tourism - it is just a partisan political body. They act for their own benefit, giving the wrong impression to people about the reality of tourism in the region at present.
“The tourism board should be making all efforts to improve tourism rates in the region but I do not see them taking any action.”
In a statement, the president of ERTA Nuno Aires said: “We have to admit that this year has been difficult, but the data from INE is encouraging and we are confident in an accelerating growth for the summer.”
Elidérico Viegas said this summer was unlikeLY to show positive results because of the economic crisis that was affecting the world. “The Portuguese are more restrained this year, not spending as much money while on holidays, and people abroad are choosing cheaper destinations.”
Responding to Elidérico Viegas’ comments, Nuno Aires told national newspaper Correio da Manhã this week: “We (ERTA and AHETA) need to focus on working together above all.”
Do you have a view on this story? Please email Editor Inês Lopes at ines.lopes@theresidentgroup.com
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