Faro, Portugal, Dec. 16, 2025 (Lusa) - The return of Formula 1 to Portugal, to the Algarve International Circuit in Portimão, will have a significant impact on boosting the tourism sector in the Algarve, especially in the low season, said the president of the largest hotel association in the region on Tuesday.
"The return of Formula 1 to the Algarve reinforces the region's image and brings occupancy, usually in low tourist seasons," the president of the Algarve Hotels and Tourist Resorts Association (AHETA) told the Lusa news agency.
For Hélder Martins, the decision "demonstrates the extraordinary importance of the Algarve racetrack in the region's international events policy", after that facility has already hosted Formula 1 World Championship races in 2020 and 2021.
"AHETA commends the government and the secretary of state [for Tourism, Trade and Services, Pedro Machado] for their constant support in this events policy, which also involves the RTA [Algarve Tourism Region] and various regional partners," he added.
The Portuguese Grand Prix will return to include the Formula 1 World Championship for two consecutive years, in 2027 and 2028, at the Algarve International Circuit (AIA), following a two-year agreement between the organisation of the sport, the Portuguese Government, Turismo de Portugal and the promoter Parkalgar, Parques Tecnológicos e Desportivos, S.A., it was announced today.
The agreement between the Portuguese Government and the championship promoters was signed in London, but the date of the Grand Prix will only be known in June 2026, when the 2027 World Championship calendar is set, and it is expected to be part of the European “season” during the spring.
The president of the Algarve Tourism Board, André Gomes, also welcomed the event in the Algarve, considering that it "will contribute to a further boost in tourist demand", meeting one of the region's strategic objectives, which also includes diversifying the range of offerings through segments such as sports and event tourism.
Formula 1 returned to Portugal in 2020, after 24 years of absence from the World Championship, following the reorganisation of the calendars due to the Covid-19 pandemic, for the first of two editions in Portimão, which will return to the World Championship.
On 14th August, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro revealed during the PSD's Festa do Pontal in Quarteira that everything was on track for the return of the Portuguese Grand Prix to the Algarve.
FPB/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
