The Portuguese Government has just approved a plan to reduce the effects of Brexit and the bankruptcy of Monarch, Air Berlin and Niki airlines in the Algarve and Madeira, which have reduced these two regions capacity. The objective of the plan is "to combat seasonal tourism in the Algarve and Madeira regions for the winter of 2018/2019" through the "promotion of these destinations in priority countries," said the Secretary of State for Tourism in a statement.

Thus, Ana Mendes Godinho intends to "increase the attractiveness of these destinations in the so-called low season, increase sales, improve occupancy rates and enhance the international air connections of both destinations between October 2018 and March 2019”, the same statement reads.

There will be 53 entities involved in this plan, including "airlines, tour operators and also most relevant online travel agencies in their respective markets," the report says. These plans are supported by Turismo de Portugal, which will work along with the Regional Agencies for Tourism Promotion, implying an investment that reaches one million euros.
Among the Algarve's priority markets are the United Kingdom, Germany, Holland, Scandinavia, Ireland, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg and France. Regarding Madeira, countries targetted are the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Holland, Scandinavia, Poland, Switzerland, USA, Brazil and Russia.

The Government intends to increasingly reduce Portugal's tourism seasonality.

Source: Secretary of State for Tourism