Albufeira Tourism Board & Albufeira Council, in conjunction with AE Consulting, hosted a workshop and networking, followed by a 3-course dinner with Portuguese wines, presentations and lots of lovely prizes at Medley on Dublin’s Fleet Street. With over 50 attendees from trade and media, the very well attended event had seasoned motivational speaker, comedian & MC, Alan Shortt hosting the evening.
Albufeira – The Capital of Tourism in Portugal
Alan Shortt explained you can have “chills or thrills… it’s just about you – decide your own balance”. In fact, that is the essence of a holiday, a break away from the humdrum of normal life. In Albufeira, considered Portugal’s tourism capital, the destination offers something for everyone – quality accommodation, good sports infrastructure, golf courses, theme parks, water parks, beaches & mountains, buzzing nightlife, culture, entertainment and rich & varied cuisine experiences.
As Alan highlighted, “The Albufeira Tourism Board and Albufeira Council are delighted to be back here in Dublin because, as you know, Irish people love Albufeira, the travel trade love Albufeira and everybody pretty much loves Portugal and loves the Algarve.”
Albufeira Ranks No. 2 in Popularity
Interestingly, in June 2025, Albufeira welcomed almost 900,000 overnight bed nights from the Irish market, securing it as the second most popular Portuguese destination, behind Lisbon. Not just a summer sun spot, the area is also experiencing low-season growth, attracting tourists as a winter sun destination, so add it to the list for an epic New Year’s Eve celebration.
Ireland – 6th Largest Market for Portugal
In fact, the audience discovered that Ireland has climbed to become the sixth largest market for Portugal with a spend of nearly €720 million. Guest numbers are up by +2.2% this year.
Is it the Weather?
Boasting one of the best climates in Europe, all year round, Albufeira has an average summer temperature of 24-29 degrees and a balmy summer sea temperature of 21-24 degrees. Many moons ago, it reminds me of a summer working in the Algarve and swimming each morning in the sea – a glorious way to start the day. While winter is 15-18 degrees, it still feels significantly warmer than an Irish equivalent. On a weekend break in January along the southern coastline of Portugal, my wife and I were swimming in the sea (locals in winter woollies looked on perplexed, but it certainly was warmer than Wicklow shores on most summer days). In fact, Albuferia offers over 300 days of sunshine a year.
Joana Machado (General Manager – Albufeira Promotion Bureau)
Joanna Machado (General Manager, Albufeira Promotion Bureau), highlighted how welcoming Albufeira is to tourists. When asked how they manage the balance between visitors and residents, she explained that “we don’t see you as visitors. We see you as one of our own.” When asked about a special moment to recommend to tourists experiencing Albufeira for the first time, she encouraged travellers to experience the fishermen villages and the world-renowned beaches.
Albufeira is considered Portugal’s tourism capital. Centrally located in the Algarve, Albufeira boasts a markedly Mediterranean-style climate and expansive golden sandy beaches can be enjoyed year-round. The exceptional atmosphere is suitable not only for the broadest possible variety of sporting activities but also for discovering the area’s considerable historical and cultural heritage.
There’s a modern transport network too, so you can get to any part of the region quickly and easily, and Faro International Airport is just a twenty-minute drive away. Equally, Albufeira can be reached by motorway from Portugal’s main cities. Joana highlighted car rental, which is a great way to explore the little towns and inland gems of the region (having done so with my family on many occasions to explore the Algarve). Furthermore, travellers can go by bike, bus transfer or train, making Albufeira a very accessible destination.
She summarised, “You can see culture, you can see sun & sea, you can do wellness, you can do a massage, you can practice sports, you can enjoy our astronomy”. She added, Albufeira also offers ideal facilities for MICE.
Praia da Falésia
Albufeira has an impressive 25 Blue Flag beaches. It also boasts 14 accessible beach flags. The accolades continue: coming in 5th in 2025, Falésia Beach, located in Olhos de Agua, was distinguished as the N°1 Beach Destination at the Travellers’ Choice Awards – The Best of the Best in the World 2024 by TripAdvisor, and came in 6th for the same award in 2023. For context, this prize is given to beaches with a high number of opinions and ratings that exceed community expectations over 12 months.
Less than 1% of the 8 million listings on TripAdvisor are awarded the Best of the Best award, which recognises the highest level of excellence in the travel industry.
Golf Destination
The Algarve has long been synonymous with golf. Albufeira is no exception, with a diverse range of golf courses to suit all levels of expertise, from scenic par-3 courses to championship courses. And the sporting facilities aren’t limited to golf. In fact, Albufeira offers an extensive range of sporting facilities, including training camps for football teams and athletes attracted to the climate and extensive, high-quality accommodation and sporting infrastructure.
Food, Wine Tasting & 350 Million Years of History
While personally, golf would have little appeal to me, the signature dish of piri-piri chicken is an all-time favourite dish of mine. Couple this with local wine tasting and the picturesque scenery, and it is a holiday paradise. Given that Albufeira is working towards an official UNESCO designation for Geopark Algarvenis, it points to the beauty of the surrounding territory. Located in the south of Portugal, in the centre of the Algarve region, it includes part of the municipalities of Loulé, Silves and Albufeira, in a total area of 1,381 square kilometres. The area’s history starts c. 350 million years ago, which uncovers the history of the mountain ranges and ancient seas dating back to before the dinosaurs walked the earth.
Prizegiving
There were plenty of prizes, with winners receiving stays in various luxurious properties across the region, including stays at Marriott, 3HB, Dona Filipa Hotel, AP Cabanas Beach & Nature, Grande Real Santa Eulalia, as well as car hire with Visacar and various experiences with Algar Experience.
