Domestic tourism is evolving and changes have been constant. To analyze the challenges and discuss innovations in the activity, with a significant impact on the economy, Turismo do Centro will once again promote the “Vê Portugal” Tourism Forum, the only event on domestic tourism in the country.
From the 3rd to the 5th of June, the tenth edition of the Tourism Forum, with the high sponsorship of the Presidency of the Republic, takes place with the central theme “Tourism: Bridge to generate understanding”, this year in Torres Vedras, with the presence of the greatest experts , after Viseu, Aveiro, Coimbra, Leiria, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Caldas da Rainha, Tomar and Covilhã.
“Tourism is one of the most resilient economic activities in the country. It is probably one of those that evolves the most and brings the most innovation to our economy. In the last two decades, tourist demand tourism has changed its paradigms and all its dimensions, starting with the issue of travel – low cost, which changed the paradigm – and supply. This changed the demand profile. This forum also serves to discuss the innovations and changes that domestic tourism has experienced”, stated Jorge Sampaio, member of the Executive Committee for Tourism in the Center.
Stressing that, even during the pandemic, the Tourism Forum took place, even if in “online” mode, Jorge Sampaio highlighted that, in Torres Vedras, there will be “the opportunity to show a Center of Portugal that is always ahead of this innovation.”
Jorge Sampaio stressed that “there is no other force to bring innovation if we do not discuss it” and also reflect on how we will continue to “evolve and progress” and study ways of “innovating domestic tourism”.
The concern to attract
The president of Torres Vedras City Council, Laura Jesus Rodrigues, considered that “it is very important” for the city “to be able to host the Tourism Forum this year”.
The mayor referred to the importance of choosing the city that hosts the Tourism Forum: “We are really a medium-sized city, with urban and rural characteristics. We are a wine-producing territory, very linked to History, with the only type of Napoleonic fortifications, which, really, as the first line of defense, were extraordinarily important, to resist the French invasion. At the same time, we have 20 kilometers of coastline, of great quality, and we have brought together various condiments to please those who visit us and to be a beautiful host for this forum”.
Laura Jesus Rodrigues admitted that Torres Vedras, “a wine growing territory”, is “a smaller city than where these forums are usually held” and pointed out that the location close to Lisbon “is intermediate, not the big cities”, in which there are already several problems linked to tourism.
“When we think about these things, it is good to think about cities with a smaller size, which can, naturally, start to receive other types of visitors and which can be attractive, not only for foreign visitors, but also for those from the interior , for inland tourism. I believe that Torres Vedras, half an hour from Lisbon, with urban and rural characteristics, naturally has these characteristics that really allow this type of tourism to be leveraged”, he concluded.
FROM BUSINESS MEETINGS TO DISCOVERING THE TERRITORY
The three days of the 10th Domestic Tourism Forum “Vê Portugal”, in Torres Vedras, will be intense. From B2B, the third edition of business meetings, to debates and discovery of the territory, the program of this initiative in the Center’s tourism sector aims to address different aspects of national tourism.
On the afternoon of the first day, June 3rd, B2B will take place at Praia de Santa Cruz, in the Noah Surf House space. Presented by Sílvia Ribau, who oversees the Center for Structuring, Planning and Promotion of Tourism in the Center, the occasion brings together agents of the tristical offer in the West sub-region with tour operators and national travel agents. The morning of the following day is filled with the opening session, debates and presentations, at Teatro-Cine de Torres Vedras.
Andreia Rodrigues, head of the Communications, Image and Public Relations Center for Tourism in the Center, revealed that the opening session will be chaired by Pedro Machado, Secretary of State for Tourism, and will also include: Francisco Calheiros, president of the Tourism Confederation of Portugal, Raul Almeida, who presides over Centro Turismo, and Laura Rodrigues, the mayor of Torres Vedras.
The first panel is under the theme “Challenges for Regional Tourism Entities”. Moderated by Carlos Abade, president of Turismo de Portugal, it will also feature the presidents of the Regional Tourism Entities: Raul Almeida (Center), Luís Pedro Martins (Porto and North), Carla Salsinha (Lisbon), José Santos (Alentejo) and André Gomes (Algarve).
Still in the morning, “Unlikely Tourists – Inspiring experiences towards promoting peace in territories of war” is the second panel, moderated by Dulcineia Ramos, councilor for Tourism at Torres Vedras City Council. Torriano Bruno Santos, TT and Rally Raid motorcycle racer, Mário Patrocínio, writer and filmmaker, also from Torres Vedras, and Rui Nunes da Silva, president of IPAV – Instituto Padre António Vieira are part of the panel.
In the afternoon, participants in “Vê Portugal” have several proposals for visiting the main tourist assets in the municipality of Torres Vedras, including the Linhas de Torres. The night is reserved for the official “Vê Portugal” dinner, also intended to honor companies and personalities that stand out in the regional and national tourism sector.
The third and final day of the Tourism Forum is completed with the panels “Peace as a Tourist Destination”, “Peace Begins Here – Ways to stimulate cooperation and territorial cohesion” and “Impacts of war on the global and national economy”.
João Paulino (Journalist at “Campeão” in Lisbon)
Published in the paper edition of Champion of the Provinces on May 1, 2024
