Has the Madeleine mystery increased tourism to Praia da Luz?

[Angelo222]

There was a line of thought some time back that the disappearance of Madeleine McCann had damaged tourism to the Portuguese Algarve and the Luz area in particular.  The negative publicity in the British press claiming Luz was a haven for paedophiles and perverts would not have helped.  Or is it a case of there is no such thing as bad publicity?

Viewing the live webcam in Praia da Luz would lead one to suspect tourism is very alive and well. Do those members who live in the area agree?

www.algarveluzbay.com/

7

[ShiningInLuz]

We took a sounding and the general opinion is that any time there is a major news story on Luz, e.g. Crimewatch 2013, there is an increase in cancelation of villa bookings and a drop in fresh bookings.

On Luz tour #3 in June 2016 we had a look at various aspects of the Ocean Club, and it appears to be near dead.

The area above 24 hr reception used for kid's clubs back in 2007 has been converted to office space.  The indoor swimming pool just to the north had no water in it.  While I know the tennis courts were cleaned at the start of the season, they do not appear to be in regular use.  What was the Tapas restaurant did not appear to be open.  The maximum number of holidaymakers I saw using the Tapas area was 2 adults (no children).

On the Algarve front, I know there is a major expansion of Faro airport under way due to a predicted increase in traffic.  Whether that increase will actually happen is something to watch.  The BRexit effect on the £/€ is likely to be a major driver in the other direction.

[mercury]

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/apr/04/madeleine-mcann-disappearance-holiday-resort

If the mccanns are ever found guilty they may be sued by them as well

[ShiningInLuz]

http://portugalresident.com/tags/hotel-bookings  The last 12 months appear to have seen better hotel bookings in the Algarve, albeit the hotspots don't include Luz.

[ferryman]

There was a line of thought some time back that the disappearance of Madeleine McCann had damaged tourism to the Portuguese Algarve and the Luz area in particular. The negative publicity in the British press claiming Luz was a haven for paedophiles and perverts would not have helped. Or is it a case of there is no such thing as bad publicity?

Viewing the live webcam in Praia da Luz would lead one to suspect tourism is very alive and well. Do those members who live in the area agree?

www.algarveluzbay.com/

I think the point, there, probably is that sex-offenders in Portugal are less strictly policed (than elsewhere) so (mostly men) with a proclivity to abuse children will tend to find Portugal a 'draw' (if that is the right way of expressing it).

[ShiningInLuz]

I think the point, there, probably is that sex-offenders in Portugal are less strictly policed (than elsewhere) so (mostly men) with a proclivity to abuse children will tend to find Portugal a 'draw' (if that is the right way of expressing it).

That idea is one that the UK media appears to be only too willing to promote.  At least for the moment, I am simply not seeing this view being reality.

I finally got round on my blog to chomping my way through any paedophile connection with Luz, with the Algarve and with Portugal.  In doing so I have turned up a mass of information on other countries.

I have examined in detail the Sir Clement Freud angle, the Christopher Ridout angle, the allegations slopped out by Antonella Lazzeri re local pubs, and the James Watson angle.  The best article I have found to date comes from Correio da Manhã in 2006, and covers activities in Portugal and elsewhere.  It's on Madeleine v paedophilia 2 on ShiningInLuz.

Anyone reading my blog has two or three further 'treats' to enjoy, or endure, depending on your interest in this topic.

I have yet to cover Holland around 2006, where a paedophile club had been operating openly and legally since 1984.  And in 2006 they openly formed a political party with the aims of legalising paedophilia and legalising child pornography.

I have yet to cover Spain around 2006, when ring after ring after ring was uncovered.

I have yet to round up in Portugal with the 2000 SIS report, the Casa Pia scandal, and the number of people in Portuguese jail in 2006 for paedophile offences.

Cheap journalism is an easy formula.  First, throw in Madeleine McCann without worrying about whether the case has anything to do with Madeleine.  We've had a couple of those very recently.  Second, it gets juicier if you can throw in a paedophile connection.  Don't worry whether paedophilia has anything to do with the McCann case.  In so writing a piece, make sure the public gets the totally irrelevant reminder that Madeleine went missing in Luz.  That gives the perfect trinity of Madeleine McCann, paedophilia, and Luz.  Just perfect.

I have not brought the stories over here because I got the distinct impression contributing members did not have stomach for it.  However, if I get different feedback, I will be happy to start a thread on paedophilia.

[Alfie]

"The largest increase in occupancy levels in the Algarve for May 2016 were found to be in the western Algarve areas of Lagos to Sagres (including Praia da Luz) which saw a boost in numbers by 11.6%, this was then followed by Portimão and Praia da Rocha at 9.1%, demonstrating the diversity now in holiday destinations within the Algarve."

http://www.algarvehomesales.com/blog/69-british-tourists-leading-algarve-tourism-boom

[John]

There was a line of thought some time back that the disappearance of Madeleine McCann had damaged tourism to the Portuguese Algarve and the Luz area in particular.  The negative publicity in the British press claiming Luz was a haven for paedophiles and perverts would not have helped.  Or is it a case of there is no such thing as bad publicity?

Viewing the live webcam in Praia da Luz would lead one to suspect tourism is very alive and well. Do those members who live in the area agree?

www.algarveluzbay.com/

I think the Madeleine McCann case is a double edged sword as far as tourism is concerned.  There will be parents with children who will be put off holidaying in the area just as there will be others who want to visit the village simply out of curiosity.

[ferryman]

That idea is one that the UK media appears to be only too willing to promote.  At least for the moment, I am simply not seeing this view being reality.

I finally got round on my blog to chomping my way through any paedophile connection with Luz, with the Algarve and with Portugal.  In doing so I have turned up a mass of information on other countries.

I have examined in detail the Sir Clement Freud angle, the Christopher Ridout angle, the allegations slopped out by Antonella Lazzeri re local pubs, and the James Watson angle.  The best article I have found to date comes from Correio da Manhã in 2006, and covers activities in Portugal and elsewhere.  It's on Madeleine v paedophilia 2 on ShiningInLuz.

Anyone reading my blog has two or three further 'treats' to enjoy, or endure, depending on your interest in this topic.

I have yet to cover Holland around 2006, where a paedophile club had been operating openly and legally since 1984.  And in 2006 they openly formed a political party with the aims of legalising paedophilia and legalising child pornography.

I have yet to cover Spain around 2006, when ring after ring after ring was uncovered.

I have yet to round up in Portugal with the 2000 SIS report, the Casa Pia scandal, and the number of people in Portuguese jail in 2006 for paedophile offences.

Cheap journalism is an easy formula.  First, throw in Madeleine McCann without worrying about whether the case has anything to do with Madeleine.  We've had a couple of those very recently.  Second, it gets juicier if you can throw in a paedophile connection.  Don't worry whether paedophilia has anything to do with the McCann case.  In so writing a piece, make sure the public gets the totally irrelevant reminder that Madeleine went missing in Luz.  That gives the perfect trinity of Madeleine McCann, paedophilia, and Luz.  Just perfect.

I have not brought the stories over here because I got the distinct impression contributing members did not have stomach for it.  However, if I get different feedback, I will be happy to start a thread on paedophilia.

What does Clement Freud have to do with anything?

He was not unmasked until after his death.

I am talking about the way convicted paedophiles are supervised after their convictions.  I believe they are less rigorously supervised in Portugal than elsewhere.

Clement Freud was unmasked after his death (a poor example).

[Alfie]

I think the Madeleine McCann case is a double edged sword as far as tourism is concerned.  There will be parents with children who will be put off holidaying in the area just as there will be others who want to visit the village simply out of curiosity.

The article I quoted would seem to suggest that for most people who holiday there, the case simply isn't an issue one way or the other. 

[mercury]

I think the Madeleine McCann case is a double edged sword as far as tourism is concerned.  There will be parents with children who will be put off holidaying in the area just as there will be others who want to visit the village simply out of curiosity.

I wouldnt holiday there with my children out of curiosity! I would just holiday if I fancied it.
IMO the village of PDL has been tarnished by the story of abduction and everything it entailed not the fact of any
I doubt very very much indeed that the story has increased tourism there
Not as if theres anythng nice to go visit because of...as opposed to itself iyswim

Personally Id not like to step anywhere the mccanns had stepped lol, gives me the shvers

[Angelo222]

I wouldnt holiday there with my children out of curiosity! I would just holiday if I fancied it.
IMO the village of PDL has been tarnished by the story of abduction and everything it entailed not the fact of any
I doubt very very much indeed that the story has increased tourism there
Not as if theres anythng nice to go visit because of...as opposed to itself iyswim

Personally Id not like to step anywhere the mccanns had stepped lol, gives me the shvers

I don't agree Mercury. Many people will holiday there simply because they were sold on the region by online adverts.  In a lot of cases they will end up in PdL by potluck.