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
