Portugal wants “cultured” tourists
Ignoring, for a moment, the disgraceful behaviour of so-called England football fans in Portugal, the country’s tourist authorities are reportedly increasing their efforts to attract “independent and culturally-minded” visitors.
According to the BBC News website, the country’s tourist board Icep Portugal is hoping that the Euro 2004 tournament will put the country in the spotlight, and that the extra publicity will help to attract a new breed of traveller to Portugal.
Icep is reportedly keen to attract more visitors to destinations such as the capital Lisbon, the country’s second city Porto, and more remote areas such as the northern Minho region, rather that the more traditional destination, the Algarve region.
Jose Antonio Preto da Silva, of the Portuguese Trade and Tourism Office in London, is quoted as saying: “The market is changing. Traditionally, most of the tourists who come to Portugal visit the Algarve or Madeira, but also Lisbon, mainly on package tours.
“But today’s holidaymakers are becoming more sophisticated, more interested in getting to know the local culture. They want a much more individual holiday; they don’t want the mass treatment as much. We need to create more awareness of Portugal’s hidden treasures.”
Read the full report at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3784483.stm.
Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025