FESTIVAL MED GETS AWARDS AGAIN

It is the tenth prize won by Festival MED at the Iberian Festival Awards. The Algarve event was distinguished as the Iberian festival that best promotes tourism, during the gala that took place in the Spanish city of Granada, this Friday, March 15th.

For the fourth time, MED stands out in a category that has great relevance for the economy of the region in which it belongs. It should be noted that in 2018 and 2020, this festival organized by Loulé City Council received the distinction of “Best Tourist Promotion” in Portugal, while in 2023 it stood out in the same category, in the Iberian context, between Portuguese and Portuguese festivals. Spanish finalists.

In terms of tourist impact, the MED has positioned itself over the years as a reference event in the south of the country, which catapults the Algarve economy. More than 40% of its visitors are foreigners, with emphasis on Spanish, English, Dutch and French audiences. For 39% of these visitors, the MED is the main reason for their visit to the Algarve at the end of June, a scenario that contributes to the festival's notoriety and the consolidation of its brand.

On the other hand, the impact on the local economy is significant, with an increase of 50% to 80% in the hotel occupancy rate or an increase of around 50% in terms of restaurant sales.

As part of the cultural program of a region focused on tourism, this event has contributed greatly to attracting more visitors, showcasing its natural setting, the historic center of the city of Loulé where icons of Loulé's heritage such as the Castle of Arab origin can be found. or the Islamic Baths.

In this 8th edition of Iberian, the award was received by the Festival director and councilor for Events in the Municipality of Loulé, Carlos Carmo, who highlighted the importance of the award: “In addition to promoting world music and cultures, the MED Festival also aims to project our territory, our historical heritage, our culture, artisanal traditions, gastronomy but above all the hospitality of our community. It constitutes recognition of the work of everyone who participates in its implementation, both Loulé City Council workers and external partners, including production teams, media partners or entities linked to logistics. We also leave here a word of appreciation to APORFEST, in the person of its president, Ricardo Bramão, for the role in promoting these awards that contribute to cohesion in this sector. It is, therefore, a pride for the Municipality to be among the winners of this night, which was also a moment of meetings and networking among players in the music festival industry.”

In addition to the MED Festival, the Portuguese Azores Burning Summer and FMM Sines – Festival Músicas do Mundo were finalists in the “Best Tourist Promotion” category, and, from Spain, the 17th Ribeira Sacra, Bilbao BBK Live, Icónica Sevilla Fest, Mallorca Live Festival , PortAmérica, SON Estrella Galicia Posidonia and SonRías Baixas. The latter was the winner on the Spanish side.