Portugal’s naked ambition
Travellers who like to let it all hang out on holiday may soon be flocking to Portugal – to strip off.
Faced with growing competition from other hotspots to attract tourists, the country is thinking of allowing nudists onto the beaches of the Algarve.
The idea, reported by Sky News, is aimed at maintaining the huge economic boost that Portugal derives from the coastal region. The Algarve draws 5.5 million visitors from abroad each year, an industry that accounts for a tenth of the entire nation’s Gross Domestic Product.
At present, Portugal has four naturist beaches, although there are some 30 unofficial ones. But many more beaches on the Algarve could go naked with the blessing of the government.
Helder Martins, president of the Algarve Tourist Region, is reported as claiming that nudist beaches could be “an interesting tourist attraction.” The TV news channel quotes him as saying: “We are ready to work on this idea, just as we are doing in areas of cultural tourism or rural tourism.”
Portugal has been working hard to provide top-notch attractions for visitors, including facilities for golf, water sports and cultural pursuits, but resorts in rival countries are offering cheaper facilities.
Ginny McGrath
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