Two years and hundreds of interviews later, the regional tourist board for the Alentejo and Ribatejo is to present its Operational Plan for Wine Tourism, but only in draft form.
The development of wine tourism can now be discussed with local wine and tourism businesses in the Ribatejo and Alentejo regions as a template for further expansion in this niche tourism sector.
The document, developed in partnership with the Regional Wine Commission of the Alentejo, the Regional Viticultural Commission of the Tagus and the Wine Producers Association of the Alentejo Coast, is the result of various visits and interviews with the producers in which an analysis was made of the current tourism provision linked to wine.
The draft operational plan aims to structure and promote a tourism product that recently has been attracting different types of tourist and has started to earn international and national recognition.
Ceia da Silva, president of the tourist region of the Alentejo and Ribatejo, commented that there are strategic operational plans for seven tourist products in the region, all of which have been under preparation for the past two years.
The regional tourist body now wants to open a tender in order to implement the proposals in the operational plan when it finally is agreed.
The Algarve is way ahead of the slow progress across the Alentejo as in May 2014, the Algarve Tourism Board launched a tool to promote this niche market to wine lovers.
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The Algarve Wine Route encompasses four wine tourism itineraries taking in seven wineries across the region.
http://www.rotadosvinhosdoalgarve.pt/
The President of the Algarve Tourism Board said it had been working with the Algarve Wine Commission to get the plan off the ground and the engagement of the wine producers in Lagos, Portimão, Lagoa and Albufeira has made the new routes possible.
The Algarve Wine Guide has been republished:
http://www.turismodoalgarve.pt/downloads/outras-publicacoes.html and click on 'Guia de Vinhos do Algarve.'
The Alentejo has been selected by the USA's Wine Enthusiast magazine as one of the ten best wine destinations in the world
http://www.winemag.com/gallery/10-best-wine-travel-destinations-2016/#gallery-carousel-9
