The Secretary of State for Tourism, Ana Mendes Godinho, is off to China in February to kick-start an international tourism roadshow designed to attract serious investors to Portugal.
The roadshow then switches to India where the ground had been prepared by Portugal’s prime minister who has just returned from a successful State visit.
Then it’s off to Cuba where the team will take part in a tourism show, finishing up in Brazil via a trip to the US.
Godinho says the mission is to show why investing in tourism in Portugal is a sound choice, adding that the new Revive programme, where the government is leasing 30 historic buildings to the commercial sector, will take pride of place at the head of a pile of opportunities.
A new website will be launched to accompany the trip, allowing international investors to access hard facts, regional data and market trends in the Portuguese tourism sector while reviewing many of the opportunities available.
The investments on offer are not just front line tourism projects but include suppliers to the booming industry.
The head of Portugal’s tourist board, Luís Araújo said that Portugal has a lot of experience and ‘know-how’ in the wider market - areas such software systems, furniture and design for the hotel sector.
Araújo believes that Portugal has unbeatable products and services that are exportable.
Ana Mendes Godinho commented that, "In 2017, we want to widen the tourism spectrum and take advantage of the current good performance in tourism to promote Portugal as a good country in which to invest, to live, to work, to visit and also to study.”
The tourism sector in Portugal is a good news story and is helping to prop up an ailing manufacturing and service sector. The sector showed growth of 17% from January to November last year, according to data released on Wednesday by the Bank of Portugal.
For Godinho, this growth is especially noteworthy as much of it was generated outside the traditional ‘high season’ summer months, "We have seen very significant growth from the US and Brazilian markets. This shows we are able to diversify and reach low season tourists."
"The surprise was in October and November which were exceptional months, meaning that even in the low season we are able to grow significantly," said the secretary of state
So, it’s off to China, India, Cuba, the US and Brazil to drum up more investment in a sector that many see as Portugal’s only current success story.
Meanwile, back in Portugal, Godinho's lack of ability to solve the continuing Alojamaento Local fiasco seems to have been swept under the ministerial carpet.
