58
58

Galicia and Northern Portugal Want More Visitors to Cross the Minho

9 October 2017

Portuguese overnight stay nights in Galicia increased 17% in the first eight months of this year. Northern Portugal is also seeking more visitors from Galicia.

The Tourism Agency of Galicia and Tourism of Porto and the North of Portugal want to increase the number of Portuguese and Galician tourists visiting the two regions “year on year”, representatives of the two entities said today.

Just outside of promotion and exchange event held by the Tourism Agency of Galicia and the Tourism of Porto and North of Portugal (TPNP), which ends today in Santiago de Compostela, and was held under the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the parties in late 2015, the director general of Tourism of Galicia, Nava Castro, told Lusa that the purpose of the entity is to get the Portuguese “to know the unique attractions of Galicia” so that “year after year ever more tourists visit the region.”

“As a part of our strategic marketing campaign to better advertise the region to foreign tourists, one of our primary objectives is the Portuguese,” Nava Castro stated, adding that the “proximity to the neighbouring country” is not only measured by “the few kilometres of distance,” but mainly by “cultural appearances”, by ” traditions and folklore,” and by “gastronomy” and “wines.”

TPNP president Melchior Moreira said that a “proper sharing of cross-border synergies” will allow Tourism of Northern Portugal to “increase market share”, “increase the number of tourists” and “increase average stays,” generating a “greater return on investments made in the scope of Nature Tourism Products and Gastronomy and Wine.”

“More than 60% of our growth is due to the internal market, which shows us the importance of the implementation of this partnership,” he added. “We are aware of the importance of Spain and Galicia for our purposes.

Portuguese tourists’ overnight stays at hotels in Galicia increased 17% between January and August 2017 compared to the same period of 2016, leading international tourism in that region, Galician Tourism reported. Data from the Galician Tourism Marketing Department indicate that between January and August 2017, “247,000 Portuguese overnight stays at Galician hotels” were registered, a figure that compares favourably with the 205,000 Portuguese overnight stays during the same period in 2016.

Original Story: Público / LUSA

Photo: LUSA/LAVANDEIRA JR

Translation: Richard Turner