Tourism development based on conservation and enhancement
Portugal was declared the Best Sustainable Tourism Destination in Europe, thanks to the example of a shared effort and innovation in responsible and sustainable tourism, part of their 2027 strategy. Claudia Matias, Director, Turismo de Portugal, India, shares more with TTJ…
Turismo de Portugal’s strategy is a digitally oriented one. What started for promotion, is already in knowledge management, with emphasis on technology and innovation. This strategy, moreover, is a reason for praise by OECD and WTO, which consider Portugal as an example to follow. Claudia further shares, “We want to continue to be a pole of attraction for tourists from all over the world, ensuring economic benefits as a result from the tourism sector extends to the whole country, stimulating innovation and digitisation across the value chain of this activity, extremely relevant to our economy.”
To affirm Portugal as a sustainable, innovative and competitive destination, based on a cohesive territory and where work and talent are valued, is the purpose of the entire tourism sector. Nevertheless, this implementation and execution are only possible with companies that have created solutions, methods, tools, aiming more efficient processes and resource usage. Portugal has an array of sustainable destinations. Destinations such as Azores, Sintra, Cascais, Torres
Vedras, Minho region are magnificent examples, levelling up Portugal as World Leading Destination. “The Azores are the first archipelago in the world to achieve international certification of sustainable destination by an entity accredited by the Global Council for Sustainable Tourism,” adds Claudia.
The Regional Secretary for Energy, Environment and Tourism (Azores) mentioned that the certification of the Azores as a Sustainable Tourist Destination is a ‘continuous process’ and a ‘commitment to leadership, by example and responsibility for the future’.
Leading the tourism of the future is the motto of Portugal’s 2020-2027 strategy, focused on people, which defines a vision: to affirm tourism as a hub for economic, social and environmental development throughout the territory, placing Portugal as one of the most competitive and sustainable tourist destinations in the world. The country has set environmental sustainability goals, to ensure more than 90 per cent of tourism companies adopt measures for the efficient use of energy and water and, develop environmental waste management actions. Through these efforts, Turismo de Portugal wishes to increase tourist demand in the country and across several regions.
“We consider ten strategic assets of national tourism: people; climate and light; history and culture; sea; nature; water; gastronomy and wines; artisticcultural, sporting and business events; welfare; living - living in Portugal. Our goal is tourism development based on the conservation and enhancement of cultural and natural identity’s heritage contributing and improving the quality of life of the local communities,” concludes Claudia.