The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 1st November 2023
by Mike Evans
A very good day to all who have taken the time to read this report. As we come to the end of 2023 we can look back on a number of things of which to be positive about. The main plus point in this year has to be the reduction in fires we have experienced across the Algarve compared to 2022. And where there have been fires the Authorities have been quick to “smother” them early with increased personnel and equipment which has certainly produced the results we all wanted. Our thanks must go to the Bombeiros and all the other Civil protection staff who worked tirelessly throughout the summer to make sure we and our property remain safe.
Our work at Safe Communities continues with an important date for your diaries.
Safe Christmas and New Year Festive Period Seminar – Sāo Brás de Alportel
Safe Communities Portugal and Amigos do Museu do Traje in Sāo Brás de Alportel have joined forces in holding a “Safe Christmas and Festive Period Seminar”. This will take place at Museu do Traje in Sāo Brás de Alportel on Friday 17 th November from 1700 hrs to 1900 hrs, and everyone is welcome to attend.
The aim of the gathering is to learn more about the work of the Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR) and the Autoridade Nacional de Segurança Rodoviária (ANSR) (National Road Safety Authority) over the Christmas and New Year festive period, in terms of their priorities and tips we can learn from them in order to have a safe festive period.
The focus will be on:
Security of property over the Christmas period especially if property will be empty.
Safe driving.
Police enforcement and processes, and reporting suspicious activities like crime On-line scams especially shopping scams and safety tips
Apart from the presenters we are honoured that Coronel Carlos Almeida Comandante do
Comando Territorial de Faro da GNR, as well as Senhor Presidente da ANSR, Professor Doutor
Rui Ribeiro will be present, so this will be a good opportunity to meet them personally
There will be plenty of opportunities for engagement with the presenters, as one of the aims is to discuss and answer your questions, on topics of interest to you.
As we know during this period, people may be away on holiday leaving their property unoccupied, pre-Christmas shopping on-line with the potential for scams, as well as a seasonable increase in road accidents and issues such as drink driving.
The location is: R. Dr. José Dias Sancho 61, 8150-141 São Brás de Alportel and there is ample parking outside. We hope you can join us for the evening.
Now a look at some of the news that has happened across the region in the past week or so.
New route will connect Faro to New York from May 2024
The North American airline United Airlines will have a new route between Faro and New York/Newark from May 2024, said this Thursday, October 26th, the president of the Algarve Tourism Region (RTA). The new air connection will have a frequency of four weekly flights and will be the first route to connect the Algarve to the United States, a market that, according to André Gomes , has been growing “significantly” in the region.
The official said that, in global terms, in the year to August, the North American tourist market grew 29.3% compared to last year and 40% compared to 2019.
“It is extremely positive for the region’s expectations, taking into account the impact that this market already has on the Algarve, both in terms of tourism and due to the presence of investments from large funds and brands”, he said.
For André Gomes, the route reflects the work of RTA, Turismo de Portugal and Faro Airport, which together “have been joining forces to attract airlines interested in the connection between the Algarve and the United States”, he concludes.
Also in the past week, The airline operator Azores Airlines announced they will reinforce connections between Ponta Delgada and Faro with more frequency , which will start next summer , Grupo SATA announced. According to the carrier, “the demand recorded so far has led to an increase in supply, with direct connections on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, starting on June 2, 2024”.
The operation between the largest Azorean city and the Algarve district capital had been announced in August, but at the time calls were planned twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays.
The flights will depart from Ponta Delgada at 09:00 and from Faro at 13:25, with an estimated duration of two hours and 25 minutes.
“With this investment, the airline increases its offer for passengers and reinforces its position in the national market, also increasing network connectivity in the Azores”, says the note.
The airline operator points out that Faro international airport “represents the main entry point for tourists in the region and the second largest external entry of passengers, nationally”.
In August, SATA indicated that these flights will be carried out “on Airbus A320 equipment with capacity for 168 seats”.
The group recalls that, based on its offer, tourists from North America, for example, can take advantage of the Azores Airlines network to travel to a range of destinations in mainland Portugal (Lisbon, Porto and Faro) and island (Madeira ), and other cities in Europe, such as Paris, Frankfurt, Barcelona or Bilbao.
Azores Airlines is undergoing a privatisation process, with a minimum of 51% and a maximum of 85% of the company’s share capital expected to be sold.
In June 2022, the European Commission approved Portuguese state aid to support the airline’s restructuring of 453.25 million euros in loans and state guarantees, providing for measures such as a reorganisation of the structure and the divestment of a controlling stake (51 %).
Tavira records More than 100 occurrences due to Storm Bernard
The municipality of Tavira recorded more than a hundred incidents resulting from Storm Bernard, which passed through the eastern Algarve on Sunday, October 22nd, the municipality announced . These incidents include falling trees, obstruction of roads, damage to vehicles and minor damage to homes, although there is no record of homeless people.
Several operatives from the Fire Department, the Municipal Civil Protection Service, the Parish Councils and the municipal company Taviraverde were on the ground, some of them still working to restore normality.
The Tavira City Council requests that, in relation to damage to private property that has occurred in a public space, those injured must report the occurrences for analysis by municipal services by filling out a form, which must be sent to the email smpc@ cm -tavira.pt , accompanied by a report from the authorities, photographs, expense budget and proof of ownership.
Ryanair plane Makes Emergency landing at Faro Airport
A plane from the Irish low-cost airline, Ryanair, with 189 passengers on board made an emergency landing yesterday at Gago Coutinho International Airport, in Faro after one of the tyres burst during take-off.
The aircraft, bound for Belfast, had to turn back and circled around in the air, wasting fuel until it could land safely.
PSP make 10 Arrests over the last weekend in Faro
PSP detained 10 people for various crimes in the Algarve over the weekend
The arrests were due to driving under the influence of alcohol and without a licence, disobedience, possession of a prohibited weapon and domestic violence.
The PSP detained ten people, between 00:00 on Friday and 23:59 on Sunday, for various crimes, as part of its operational activity and in pursuit of its mission. According to the Faro PSP District Command, five people were arrested for driving a vehicle with an alcohol content equal to/higher than 1.2g/l; two for driving without a legal licence; one for disobedience; one for possession of a prohibited weapon and the other for domestic violence.
The PSP highlights “the arrest for committing the crime of domestic violence, which occurred in the city of Faro last Saturday afternoon, in which the 20-year-old suspect was on the public street attacking the victim, aged 17 ”. The intervening police officer who tried to stop the attacks, “was threatened with a sharp weapon by the suspect, who then fled. With the support of other police officers, it proved possible to quickly locate, intercept and detain the suspect, as well as seize the bladed weapon he used.”
The District Command of the PSP of Faro states in a statement that “it will remain strongly committed to combating all forms of crime in its area of jurisdiction, and will continue its strategy of systematically carrying out police operations, to prevent and repress crime”.
Watch Out For Counterfeit Olive Oil
The price of olive oil was already expected to rise this year, due to adverse weather conditions, including high temperatures and drought, however, the increase was even greater than initially predicted. This has led to an increase in the production of counterfeit Oil. The Food and Economic Security Authority (ASAE ) has dismantled several counterfeit olive oil schemes across the country. This includes everything from the illegal sale of bottles without labels to the marketing of olive pomace oil as extra virgin olive oil.
But How do you know if your Olive Oil is real? According to Executive Digest, “adulterated extra virgin olive oil is one in which the olive juice is diluted with other oils, such as soybean oil. The simplest way to check if the product you purchased is authentic is by its aroma. Extra virgin is produced from fresh olives, so it has an aroma similar to the fruit itself. If you detect an odour similar to cooking oil, there is a high probability that your olive oil is fake.”
There is yet another way to confirm whether we are dealing with counterfeit olive oil. Simply freeze a small amount in an ice container. If it has a consistency similar to butter and maintains its colour, it is extra virgin olive oil. If it doesn’t freeze and has a pasty, whitish texture, it’s probably fake. This is because adulterated olive oil often contains soybean oil in the mixture, which prevents it from freezing.
Tips to protect yourself from buying counterfeit olive oil:
“If the price of olive oil is well below the market average, it is a reason to be suspicious. Producing quality olive oil has its costs, and very low prices may indicate adulteration.
Avoid olive oils that use terms like “Portuguese seasoning” or “Spanish seasoning.” Genuine olive oil is not classified as a “seasoning”.
The date of production, place of origin and origin are indicators of authenticity. Genuine products tend to display this information transparently.
Well-known brands have a reputation to maintain. Choosing them reduces the chances of purchasing a counterfeit product.
Olive oils with certifications such as Protected Designation of Origin (DOP) or Protected Geographical Indication (IGP) have undergone rigorous quality and authenticity controls.”
The colour of olive oil is not a sign of quality. The greener ones are made from greener olives and the more yellowish ones indicate that they come from more mature olives.
Don’t just be guided by acidity, as this aspect represents just one of many olive oil quality parameters.
At home, store the olive oil in a dark place with a ground cork and don’t wait too long to consume it. Store the olive oil in dark glass or stainless steel bottles, avoiding contact with light. Plastic ones are not recommended due to the risk of migration of certain compounds into the oil.
Store the olive oil in a cool, dry place, away from light and heat, avoiding low temperatures (it can become cloudy and solidify, making it difficult to use). Keep the bottle away from strong smells, such as spices,” explains Executive Digest.
Have a good week. Until the next time.