Journalist Ramiro Santos was one of the speakers at the 30th anniversary session of the Algarve Hotel and Tourism Association, held on April 10, at its headquarters in Albufeira. In his speech, the journalist -personal friend of Elidérico Viegas, founder of Aheta -left his testimony to the memory of a “good, righteous and generous man”, whose work is beyond the Algarve.
The postcard highlights some passages of its intervention at a ceremony in which a memorial was unveiled to the founder and first president of Aheta, as well as to all presidents of the social organs of the association.
I met Elidérico Viegas around 1987, at a meeting of the National Directorate of the Portugal Hotel Association, at the headquarters of its regional delegation in Faro.
The goal was to look for an alternative to replace in the head of the AHP delegation, Dr. Oliveira Santos, who had been performing these functions just over a year.
Elidérico Viegas was the name chosen. And the new structure associated with AHP was able to occupy the affirmation space and the recognition that was due to the Algarve.
In a few years, AHP’s new decentralized platform was an important interlocutor of the regional tourist-tourist sector, while Elidérico Viegas became the spokesman for the yearnings and claims of Algarve tourism, as well as national tourism as a whole. Because he was beyond the restricted space of the interests of local tourism, to present himself as the face of Portuguese Tourism Business Associativism.
However, later years, this protagonism of the association and its leadership began to be viewed with some embarrassment. It became evident that the interests of the Algarve did not coincide or, said otherwise, did not fit the notebook of the larger concerns of the large groups that defended a policy of approximation and commitment to the decision powers in Lisbon. And Viegas like an uncomfortable voice.
(…) Divorce was presented as the more than predictable outcome. So the Algarve entrepreneurs understood that the time had come for each one to go their way and the Algarve to have their own life.
And presented their reasons:
– They wanted a greater strategic autonomy compared to Lisbon, an agenda and their own claiming notebook, without fear of facing the powers installed in the region and the Terreiro do Paço, demanding at the same time their participation and seat in regional and national tourism bodies according to their economic and social representativeness.
Well viewed things, they were conditions of power that clearly aimed at the statement of the tourist Algarve with a self -and -autonomous voice. Free to act and to speak without having to permit to anyone in the decisions that you considered to adopt the interests of your associates and the region.
It was the cry of Ipiranga that sounded like a dry thunder across the country with the connection with the economy and tourism.
Formally, the rupture would be consummated by public deed of June 27, 1995. The association of Algarve’s hotels and tourist enterprises (Aheta) was created.
(…) Nothing or no one would be able to lock the wind with your hands. The process advanced as expected, with the support and signatures of those who wanted to write the future, opening an important chapter in the history of Algarve and the country tourism.
And today it is unanimous the recognition that Aheta represented a stone in the charco of the standing waters of immobilism and inertia of the traditional forces that were scattered and closed in their small powers of interests and chapels.
The fundamental principles that would guide the new associative organization were marked in this sentence given by Elideric Viegas:
“Aheta assumes the solemn commitment to do everything to give the tourist activity, the recognition of the fundamental economic weight it actually has, but that the successive powers have denied it.”
A few years embraced, the association would consolidate itself as the largest and most important organized corporate associative structure of the country’s tourist-tourist sector, bringing together almost all hotels, tourist apartments, tourist real estate, residential, golf camp, casinos, marinas and themed parks in the region.
The miracle in which no one seemed to believe, it happened.
The tourist Algarve began to speak to one voice, and Elidérico Viegas remained firm and determined inThe strongly mobilizing leadership of tourism in the region.
I will say more: of the general interests of the Algarve.
In such a way, this is so that today one can speak of an associative reality before AHETA and another after AHETA. The Algarve became stronger, more united and interventional, with the ability to enforce its weight in the economy and national tourism.
Honor to women and men who, along the way, contributed to build and erect this dream, uniting what seemed almost impossible to achieve. With special emphasis on determination, work, courage, availability, leadership quality and ability to anticipate Elideric Viegas scenarios.
With a life dedicated to the defense and appreciation of Algarve tourism, Elidérico Viegas died on November 2, 2024. He was 74 years old.
Because his work is beyond the Algarve, Elidérico Viegas leaves a legacy that is an inspiring reference to the country’s business associativism.
A was his great work. The Algarve and Tourism, your passion. Tirelessly. Every day. Until the end.
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