Two of the Algarve’s main tourism business associations have cleared the way for a merger that will create a new organisation representing around 1,300 members across the region.
Members of the Association of Algarve Hotels and Tourist Enterprises (AHETA) unanimously approved the merger with the Algarve Hotel and Restaurant Association (AIHSA) at a general assembly held on October 8 at AHETA’s headquarters.
With the proposal now approved by members of both organisations, the two associations have been formally authorised to move ahead with plans to create the AETA – Association of Tourism Companies of the Algarve.
The merger has been under preparation for around a year by a joint technical team from the two organisations.
The process formally began on July 6, when AHETA president Hélder Martins and AIHSA president Daniel do Adro signed a memorandum of understanding in the presence of Tourism Secretary of State Pedro Machado.
The two associations bring together different but overlapping areas of the Algarve tourism industry.
AHETA, based in Albufeira since its creation in 1995, represents businesses in hotels, tourist real estate, tourism entertainment and local accommodation.
AIHSA, headquartered in Faro and dating back to 1971, traditionally represents the hotel, restaurant and beverage sectors in dealings with public authorities.
Together, they have around 1,300 members.
The future AETA will combine the staff and resources of both organisations, with the aim of strengthening services offered to members in areas including legal advice, training, labour relations and day-to-day business management.
The new association is also expected to give the Algarve tourism sector a more unified voice when dealing with government bodies and other official tourism organisations.
The next step will be to submit and formally register the necessary statutory changes with the Directorate-General for Employment and Labour Relations (DGERT).
Once that process is completed, elections will be held for the governing bodies of the new association, with the aim of completing them before the end of the year.
AHETA and AIHSA want AETA to officially begin operating on January 1, 2027.
Michael Bruxo
Journalist for the Portugal Resident.