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Centre of Portugal Continues to Grow as a Tourist Destination

24 November 2017

Pedro Machado, president of Turismo da Região Central, said in Macau that Portugal’s centre continues to grow as a tourist destination and predicts that growth will come in at between 16 and 17% this year, with another double-digit increase in 2018.

Despite the fires that devastated some regions of the country’s interior, Pedro Machado, president of the Regional Tourism Entity of Central Portugal, revealed at a press conference during the 43rd national congress of APAVT – the Portuguese Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies, held in Macau, that the Center was continuing its growth and was confident that the trend would continue.

The executive believes that the region is vast and the offering very diversified and can withstand the loss of the one thousand 1000 beds that were destroyed during the fires. Mr Machado does not doubt that interest in the region will not diminish, especially considering that there are still 45,000 beds available at tourism establishments throughout the area.

“The Centre of Portugal suffered during the summer fires, but we are here to say that our infrastructure, products, brands continue to be in perfect condition and remain a privileged destination for tourism. Even more so because we are focused on quality, not mass-, tourism,” the executive reasoned. Mr Machado admits that the central region is rebuilding and rehabilitating itself.

In this sense, the executive stated that there are strategic plans to quickly overcome the destructive effects of fires, including the replacement of damaged infrastructure, through financial support and help with upgrades. Another of the strategies is to strengthen the diversity of the product base. “We mustn’t forget that Portugal’s centre is highly diverse, with some particularly strong areas, namely religious tourism and sports-based activities, both at sea and in the mountains,” he said.

To focus attention on the central region, Fátima Vila Maior, director of the FIL Fair Area, also revealed in Macau that the region would be a featured destination at the next edition of the Lisbon Tourism Fair (BTL) will run from February 28 to March 4, 2018, at FIL, Parque das Nações.

“The Centre of Portugal is an area with plenty to offer, and we intend to position the region at the BTL. There is a lot of work to do after the tragedy, and it will not only be in the following months but also during the year 2018, “she explained.

The central zone has received deserved particular attention from the Portuguese government to overcome the tragedy of June and October. Ana Mendes Godinho, yesterday during her speech, mentioned that a program was launched to attract events such as congresses, with 59 currently scheduled for 2018 and “we have just approved new special rules to attract events and congresses for the interior of the country, principally in the area affected by the fires.”

AHRESP – the Portuguese Hotel and Catering Association, said that businesspeople in the industry were asked to include products from the central regions in the country’s traditional Christmas baskets.

Original Story: Jornal Econômico – Fernanda Pedro

Translation: Richard Turner