Wines and golf, Silver Coast goes to Holland

The wine of the Quinta da Cortezia "Vinha Conchas", one of the partners of Golfoeste in the promotion of the golf resorts and wines of the Silver Coast/ West region of Portugal, was very successful in the Golf Fair of Amsterdam that elapsed in Holland between the 14th and 16th of March.

In addition of the wines, the public got to know better about the six golf fields of the Silver Coast/ West region of Portugal (Praia d’El Rey, Campo Real, Golden Eagle, Vimeiro, Botado e Bom Sucesso) and the new resort, the Ballesteros Royal Obidos Golf and SPA.

An article in the foreign press referred that "the golf in Portugal isn’t the Algarve alone anymore, and that the Blue Coast has now a fantastic new zone as well as the Silver Coast/ West region of Portugal and its Golfoeste trademark".

The Silver Coast of Portugal, the best new resorts for quality golf…

Silver Coast to receive Golf mega-tournament

A mega-tournament of golf in the Silver Coast will be one of the events that will be part of a plan of international promotion of the west region with financing of the State, to the resemblance of what was already done in the Algarve.

The guarantee was given by Frederico Costa, administrator of Tourism of Portugal, in a first meeting had with the president of the RTO (West Tourism Region) about this plan. However, it is also predicted the achievement of an international golf meeting to take place in the region in June, with the presence of 20 foreign speakers.

The main goal of this initiative will be to encourage the tourists dislocated to the Silver Coast for certain events to stay longer in the region. "Anybody going to the Opera festival in Obidos can take advantage of the day or two in the region, and go eat a sweated lobster at Peniche and buy some cavacas in Caldas da Rainha, for example", explained Antonio Carneiro.

Luis Garcia (RTO vice-presidente) highlighted the way the Silver Coast region has becoming more and more successful; referring that magazine "Golf Weekly" did an article in its central pages about golf in Portugal, where the Silver Coast/ West region fields were referred.

In the last week of March, GolfeOeste has been participating in a marketing operation for tourism agencies in Germany.

West Portugal in the Healthy Beach Program

The Healthy Beach Program is the result of a protocol of cooperation established between the Vodafone Foundation in Portugal, the Navy, the Water Institute, the Institute of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity, the National Institute for Rehabilitation and the Blue Flag Association of Europe, and is going to cover beaches of the Silver Coast of Portugal (Nazare, Caldas da Rainha, Peniche, Lourinha and Torres Vedras).

This program has the main goal to contribute for the increase of the security and quality of the environment in the beaches, as well as accessibilities for people with mobility difficulties.

Concerning Security there was disposed important equipment, such as jet skis for water rescue, buoyant stretchers or watchtowers, amongst other equipment. It was also created a simplified communications net accessible to the public, supplied telephones to the life-guards and created a phone number for each beach included in the program.

The implementation of a VPN (Virtual Private Network) came to facilitate the communication between the positions of beach, Captainships of Port, Instituto de Socorros a Naufragos (Help to Castaways and emergency rescue at sea), Local and Municipal Firemen, numbers of national emergency and others, identified as prominent in the support to emergency situations.

On the other hand, the SOS Praias (Beaches), a system of alert and support to the rescue designed especially for beach zones that are not guarded that entered in operation in 2007, will continue to be applied to new beaches.

The Silver Coast, taking the right steps towards a safer summer at the beach!

Crucial Highways for the Silver Coast

Concession for the Silver/ West Coast Highways was announced this morning in the presence of Portuguese Prime-minister Jose Socrates.

A8 (motorway) is going to be connected to the A1 (main Portuguese motorway) at Leiria by 2011. The adjudication of this work will occur still in 2008, predictions appoint to conclusion in 2011.

According to the government, the new concession, that represents an investment of 260 millions of euros, will benefit directly around 391 thousand inhabitants of nine councils of the Silver Coast region, namely: Alcobaca, Nazare, Porto de Mos, Batalha, Leiria, Marinha Grande, Ourem, Tomar and Torres Novas.

Sustained developed is always welcomed to this part of Portugal and the Silver Coast will always know how to maintain it’s “personality” throughout the natural development one should expect from a place with such potential.

Open inscriptions for Collector’s Fair

The inscriptions for the Collector’s Fair that the Municipal Museum of Cadaval is going to promote between the 24^th and 27^th of April are now open.

Everyone that possesses collections of any kind of articles is invited by the organization to participate in this event that is going to be not only an exposition of collectable articles, but also a trading and commercial opportunity.

The museum is seeking to enrich and diversify its expositional offering, contributing, at the same time, for the promotion and proximity between public and participants.

Despite of, already, having promoted, in previous years, two expositions of stamp collecting, this will constitute the first generic Collector’s Fair promoted by the museum of Cadaval, home of delicious wine, straight in the heart of the Silver Coast of Portugal.

The inscriptions are free and can be done directly at the Municipal Museum of Cadaval, or through the site, in that case by means of filling the online form, or yet by telephone number 262 691 690 or still by the email museu@cadaval.org.

Silver Coast, name your taste, you will probably find it here…

Silver Coast Received Speed Boat Festival

Foz do Arelho was the location chosen by the Portuguese Federation of Speed Boats for the beginning of the activities of the present competitive season, with the realization of a festival on the last 16th of March. This initiative united the pilots, to finalize the preparations for the upcoming season.

One should remember that the current national champion of the class S850 is a local pilot, a native of Caldas da Rainha - Luis Miguel Ribeiro. The event started at 10 o’clock, just as scheduled, the program of the "Foz do Arelho / Caldas da Rainha Festival", which also included a successful exhibition of radiocontroled boats.

On the 6th and 7th of September, the National Championship of Speed Boats, is going to carry out itself a journey of competition regarding the classes S 850, T 850, T 750 and PR 750.

Silver Coast, always interesting!

Stacey Kent, Jazz in the Silver Coast

She is one of the most charismatic personalities of contemporary Jazz and was on stage of the Movie-Theatre of Alcobaca last Saturday, the 15th of March, to showcase her most recent work – "Breakfast on the Morning Tram".

The show started around half past nine. Stacy Kent was accompanied by her husband, the saxophonist Jim Tomlinson, as well as pianist Graham Harvey, the double-bass player David Chamberlain and the drummer Mathew Skelton. The passage through Alcobaca is integrated in a total of three shows that the Jazzz Diva scheduled for Portugal, in a mini-tour that contemplates stops at the House of Music in Porto and at the Cultural Center of Belem in Lisbon.

Silver Coast, home of jazz fans, obviously appreciators of the good life…of the best region in Portugal!

Silver Coast station of the TGV in Rio Maior

A station of the TGV in Rio Maior will be one of the compensations that the region is going to receive in the plan of compensations that is being negotiated between the mayors and the government; now that it has been determined that the future airport of Lisbon will not be built in Ota.

Mayors of most of the Silver Coast region all gathered for a meeting with Minister of Public Workings, Mr. Mario Lino, which returned to Caldas da Rainha, to the headquarters of the Association of the West Region Counties. This was the second of a series of meetings regarding counterparts for the Silver Coast and West region in general, to compensate the “loss” of the promised new airport.

Regarding the projected sketch of the TGV stations, Mr. Mario Lino advanced that as the new airport already is not going to be built in Ota, "we now have more liberty in the sketch and up to the launching of the contests we will continue to improve".

Once again, great news for the Silver Coast, as accessibility will be considerably improved, which shows the degree of importance the Silver Coast has in the national context and as Portugal moves in to the future, there is no doubt that the Silver Coast will have a huge part in the making…

Silver Coast is going to be Bullfighting Capital of the World

Bull Starts, training of “forcados” (the men that have to grab the bull by the horns), a historical parade, expositions, colloquies, and obviously, bullfights, are part of the First Bullfighting Journeys at Caldas da Rainha, in the Silver Coast, that will take place from the 15th to 25th of May, 2008.

The event is organized by the local businessman Paulo Pessoa de Carvalho that wants to put Caldas da Rainha back on the Bullfighting Map of the World, recuperating the tradition that the city once had.

"Bullfighting generates employment and naturally increases economy growth and above all, is part of the legacy of our country", says Paulo Pessoa de Carvalho, which is going to have the town council as essential partner in this project, which coincides with the City Festivities.

Silver Coast, indeed one of the most diverse and interesting cultures of the world!

MercoAlcobaca: the Farmer’s Fair in Alcobaca

Alcobaca receives up till next Sunday – March the 9th, the 3rd edition of the Agricultural Fair.

In the MercoAlcobaca pavilion, expositions, gastronomy and seminaries compose the program of an event thought for present new products and service of the sector, to promote the interaction between the economical agents and motivate the possibilities of business, with organization in charge of the Farmers Association of the Alcobaca Region in collaboration with the local town council.

With the activities mainly concentrated in one unique space, extended with gigantic tents, the Agricultural Fair assumes this year a dimension that surpasses widely the previous editions. Forest, Fruit, Wine, Cattle among other subjects are the emphasized sectors at a fair that counts with around 160 exhibitors and three days of technical activities.

But not only of regional representatives is this fair composed. Producers of Spain, Belgium and France give this year an international flair to the contest. With the growth of this year’s edition of the Agricultural Fair, the Wine Fair is not going to be carried out simultaneously, as usual, having been postponed for a date still to be defined, but that will surely be after the Summer.

In the Silver Coast there is always something going on!

Silver Coast gains accessibility… and even more value

Starting March, the Government is going to open the concession contest for the connection of highways A8 and A1 in the Leiria area. It will be called "Concession of the Western Coast". Announced by the Prime-Minister, Jose Socrates, during the Parliament debate carried out last Friday, the 28th of February, 2008.

Obviously good news for the Silver Coast, as the accessibility is increased considerably, since A1 is the most important highway in Portugal. Needless to say, this event adds to what is already a very significant market value, and for a good reason, as you can’t sincerely find a flaw to this beautiful stretch of the Portuguese territory.

Top 15 Reasons to invest in Silver Coast Property

The information below, reasons to invest in Silver Coast property, is focused on the economic considerations, future investments and infrastructure in the Silver Coast region of Portugal.

1. A Pricewaterhouse Coopers and a Place in the Sun report put the Silver Coast Portugal within the top three countries most likely to make you the most money in the next 10 years.
   
2. A report by the Strategic National Tourism Plan states that the tourism receipts will increase to 12 thousand million (12 billion) by 2015 and the report also concludes the Silver Coast will be one of the main growth areas.
   
3. Portugal and especially the Silver Coast have strict planning regulations that will ensure the low density of new developments and keep the supply and demand levels balanced.


4. Portugal is rapidly becoming centre stage for eco-investments within the Euro zone. And the Silver Coast is no exception with signs of renewable energy dotting the countryside.
   Investments into solar panel farms, wind turbines, wave turbines and eco-villages are attracting blue chip corporations and high net worth investors into the area.
   
5. According to Barclays bank the number of Irish and British citizens who plan to buy abroad will double in the next 5 years.
   
6. Until 2013 the EU plan to fund €8.8 million per day to improve the Portuguese economy and infrastructure.
   
7. Portugal can be seen as a low risk, established and safe investment environment.
   
8. Portugal has a long established tourism market and you will find close to 100% occupancy in the summer months in the most popular tourist spots, including Nazare, Sao Martinho do Porto, Foz do Arelho and Obidos.
   
9. Portugal, the UK and Ireland all adhere to the EU double taxation treaties allowing non-residential Portuguese property owners to avoid double taxation including capital gains tax and rental income tax.
   
10. The Portuguese banks encourage non-residents to take out a Portuguese mortgage and the process is relatively easy to obtain an 80% LTV interest only mortgage.
    
11. Terminal 2 at Lisbon airport was opened for business this year 2008 to increase the volume of low cost airline traffic to the capital.
    
12. A new TGV high speed rail link Lisbon to Madrid is planned for 2010 with completion by 2015. The TGV will reduce the journey from Lisbon to Madrid to 3 hours from currently 10 hours.
    
13. Two new modern state of the art shopping centres are to be built in Caldas da Rainha. One to be finished in spring 2008 and the other in spring 2009. One of these projects will be built be the Sonae Group. www.sonae.pt. They will consist of shops, supermarkets, cinemas and restaurants.
    
14. A Jurassic Theme Park is to be built in the town Lourinha with the construction to start in 2010 with the intention to attract more than 250,000 visitors a year.
    


15. Finally and most importantly 4 new 18 hole championship golf courses are currently under construction in the council's of Obidos and Caldas da Rainha. They are Royal Obidos, Falaesia del Rei, Rainha Golf and Bom Successo. All of these golf courses will include luxury villas and apartments plus 5 start hotels thus making the Silver coast area of Portugal a dominant force in the world of golf tourism.
    

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Obidos, Is it the main attraction of the Silver Coast?

In an interview to the “Oeste online” website, the president of the town council of Obidos, Telmo Faria, shows us why Obidos has been the most dynamic ever, revealing the intention to develop a business project around chocolate, with the creation of a museum and a factory, although ideas to increase the tourism flow don’t stop here…

Oeste Online – What are the plans to take advantage of the success already achieved with the Chocolate Festival?

Telmo Faria – We want to do a business project around the chocolate theme. The town council has been working on a project that deepens the relation with chocolate, developing a product that will have the "Obidos" trademark.

We thought of doing two units, to be managed in a partnership between the two municipal companies. One more museum like, to stay inside the town and to be called "Factory of the Chocolate-Museum" - It’s a small chocolate factory, with a shop, exposition areas and ateliers for kids.

The second is to be installed in old wine warehouses, bought for 440 thousand euros by the Town council, just outside of Obidos, in nearby village of A-da-Gorda, that will be “rejuvenated” in order for a bigger factory to be done and will have dwellings for the chocolate makers to live. These projects are important job sources and who knows if new firms don’t appear and start to associate and invest. Our intention is to open doors.

Also in this extensive interview, the Mayor of Obidos talks about several other projects that he pretends to develop in Obidos, such as a new course in Advanced Bakery, unique in Portugal. Other huge projects include the “Semana Santa (Holy Week)”; The Opera Festival; the Flower Fest; a Cinema Festival; a Arte Biennial and a Silver Biennial.

The Silver Coast sometimes seems to have a capital, called Obidos, as there is no shortage of initiative here, where young Mayor Telmo Faria puts all efforts on keeping Obidos in everyone’s ears, eyes and mouth…