Portugal is seeing a big increase in travellers looking for an alternative destination for their holidays due to the political unrest in Egypt which is now in it’s third week.

Algarve Beach

Although Portugal is one of the smallest countries in Europe, it still has a great deal to offer holidaymakers. Accommodation varies from great family orientated hotels on the Algarve to converted farmhouses in beautiful countryside of the north.

Most tourists head to the Algarve which has hundreds of sandy beaches and sheltered coves along it’s long coastline which are just perfect for sunbathing and swimming. In the north of the country is the Costa Verde or Green Coast where you can while your days away among the rolling hills and vineyards or just  lay back and enjoy sunbathing at the beautiful sandy beach. This part of Portugal is less touristy and cheaper than the Algarve so why not take advantage of the many bargain holidays that are on offer.

Lisbon

Millions of people holiday in Portugal each year which means that there are always lots of holiday packages around to experience not only the beaches but also the country’s history and culture in cities like Lisbon and Oporto.

easyJet, Europe’s leading low fares airline, has announced the opening of a new aircraft base in Portugal. With 15 existing routes from Portugal already, easyjet will be able to connect to up to 10 new European destinations at low-rates from it’s new base at Lisbon Airport. The airline has been operating in Portugal since 1999, currently flying from Lisbon, Porto, Faro and Funchal.
The new base will open during the 2011 winter season with a capacity of up to seven Airbus 319 aircraft and is expected to create up to 2,000 direct and indirect jobs. The aircraft will promote Portugal across easyjet’s network of more than 500 routes between 123 airports in 29 countries.
The base at Lisbon Airport will be easyJets 20th base in Europe and will enable the developement of new routes and improved service to customers. easyJet currently carries more than 3.4 million passengers a year to Portugal and expects to carry an additional 1 million passengers to and from Lisbon each year.

easyJet  offers flights on more of Europe’s top 100 routes than any other airline, covering twenty eight different countries and more than 500 routes. The airline was founded in 1995 by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and now employs more than 60,000 people, including 1,800 pilots and 3,300 cabin crew and has more than 182 aircraft in 28 countries. 

Direct holidays to Portugal, you just have to experience this beautiful country yourself.

There are many holiday websites offering great holiday deals, including flights, to Portugal.

Providing some good news for Scotland’s holidaymakers, low fare airline, Jet2.com, has announced a 70% increase on its Edinburgh to Faro route for summer 2010.

Jet2.com’s popular Edinburgh to Faro service will now operate four times a week during the summer period (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays) helping people in the region to get away for less next year. The summer season departures have also been brought forward to start 1st May 2010 and extended to 31st October 2010, giving even more choice for holidaymakers in 2010.

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WTM 2009

During this year’s World Travel Market (WTM) the Algarve was awarded the travel trade’s equivalent of an ‘Oscar’ for its marketing and promotional strategies.

Held in London from October 9th – 12th, the WTM this year celebrated its 30th anniversary. Organisers expected some 50,000 people to visit the exhibition, which is described as the premier global event for the travel industry.

Nuno Aires, President of the Algarve’s Regional Tourism Board (ERTA) was in London to receive the award, given to the region for its ‘daring investment in marketing’ and for selling the region to modern tourists as more than just a destination of sun and sea.

The Algarve seasonal entertainment programme, a multi-million euro agenda which is held in the region every summer and incorporates various types of activities including concerts, gastronomic events, sports and leisure, was highlighted as an example of the Algarve’s savvy promotional practices.

Rambler’s Worldwide Holidays, the specialist walking holidays company, has just launched a group of new walking holidays in Portugal.  They include an unusual 10 day rail and walk holiday which leisurely meanders through some of the country’s most stunning countryside and cities.

Portugal is a popular destination for walkers due to its warm climate and beautiful scenery, with many walks planned around the wonderful coastline of the Algarve area.  According to the company “The Algarve coast is justly famous for its fine Atlantic beaches, superb golf courses and beautiful coastline but it is generally not thought of in terms of open countryside; it is however truly wonderful rambling country.”

In relation to this rise in popularity of walking holidays and so-named geotourism, in 2008 Portugal’s first Geopark opened (Naturtejo Geopark), supported by Unesco, involving a network of nature trails and historical sites to encourage vistors to the region to indulge in more than a traditional beach holiday.  The 8th Annual Geoparks conference was held in Portugal this September, also helping Portugal to firmly establish itself as an up and coming world class geotourism destination.

Says Miguel Perestrello, Portuguese Director for Tourism in the UK, “Geotourism is an effective way of stimulating economic activity whilst promoting sustainable tourism. We want to want to offer a whole range of tourism products, starting from the typical sun and sea holiday to the Geotourism or Ecotourism nature breaks which encourage the preservation of our geological heritage and natural surroundings.”