Tourism in Portugal: Diversity, Diffusion, and Regional and Local Development

Abstract

Social and economic transformations, linked to changes in value systems, have led to a relative shift from mass tourism to new forms of holiday‐taking, including rural vacations. These trends are illustrated by a case study of Portugal, which experienced a massive growth of tourism, especially in coastal areas, from the 1960s. To some degree, this supplemented an older tourism tradition, based on inland spas. The growth of ‘green’ tourism in recent decades, facilitated by social and economic changes, has led to the revival of many such spa towns, as well as the emergence of new forms of rural tourism such as farm tourism, turismo da habitaçâo and hunting activity holidays. The overall impact of these new forms of tourism on rural development is, however, limited, and it should be considered as one strategy, among many others, for economic diversification.

Visitors' Perceptions of Authenticity at a Rural Heritage Festival: A Case Study

“…The economic return for festivals can be measured by the creation of new types of jobs, the injection of vitality into traditionally weakened economics, the breakdown of social isolation, and the encouragement of repopulation of rural communities (Cavaco, 1995). Festivals and events play a critical role in promoting place images and increasing the demand for rural tourism.…”

Carminda Cavaco: pioneer of tourism studies in Portugal

“…Her views from economics and local and regional development combined with spatial planning resulted in several important publications (Cavaco, 1993b(Cavaco, , 1995a(Cavaco, , 1996(Cavaco, , 1999a(Cavaco, , 1999b(Cavaco, , 2003a(Cavaco, , 2003b. This was a period when she interacted with Alberto Montanari, Allan Williams and Russell King -regular visitors to the Centre for Geographical Studies in Lisbon -and published some texts in English (Cavaco, 1993(Cavaco, , 1995b(Cavaco, , 1995c. It was also during this time that Carminda had an unforeseen opportunity to establish stronger connections with Brazil.…”

The two opposing impacts of heritage making on local communities: residents’ perceptions: a Portuguese case

“…This change has been strongly encouraged by the Portuguese government, which seeks to find in rural tourism a lever for socioeconomic development (e.g. Cavaco 1995, Silva 2009), but it has also relied on private initiatives.…”

“…They have the small-scale and family-based nature of most businesses operating in rural tourism (e.g. Cavaco 1995, Lane 2009). Tourism in the village employs nine workers -seven of whom are residents -, two thirds of whom are full-time.…”