São Miguel to host 4th Meeting of Partners of Portuguese Industrial Tourism Network from October 28 to 30 - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas

The Government of the Azores, through the Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, is organising the 4th Meeting of Partners of the Portuguese Industrial Tourism Network from October 28 to 30 at Arquipélago – Contemporary Arts Centre in Ribeira Grande.

The initiative will bring together representatives from public entities, businesses, experts and tourism professionals from across the country to reflect on the role of industrial tourism in promoting heritage, active industry and local areas, as well as its contribution to the diversification of the national tourism offer.

Organised by the Portuguese Industrial Tourism Network Steering Group, in partnership with the Government of the Azores, VisitAzores and Turismo de Portugal (national tourism authority), the meeting provides a unique opportunity to share knowledge, showcase best practices and engage in strategic reflection on the opportunities this sector offers for the sustainable development of tourist destinations.

The programme includes thematic sessions, panel discussions, presentations of national and international success stories, and technical visits to industrial sites and heritage sites in the Azores, with participants including representatives from the Regional Tourism Authorities, Turismo de Portugal and experts from Portugal, Spain and Italy.

The holding of this event in the Azores represents a further step in the process of developing and enhancing the regional tourism offer, strengthening the position of industrial tourism as a complementary product with high added value for the Azores as a destination.

This framework is aligned with the goals set out in the Strategic and Marketing Plan for Tourism in the Azores (PEMTA 2030). This plan identifies cultural tourism and complementary tourism products as key instruments for diversifying the tourist experience, enhancing the Region’s distinctive resources and ensuring a more balanced distribution of tourist flows across the territory.

The event will also increase the visibility of various Azorean examples of industrial tourism, industrial heritage and living industry, promoting the integration of new regional partners into the national network and strengthening the Azores’ participation in a collaborative strategy dedicated to promoting productive heritage as a tourist, cultural and educational resource.

Participation is free, but requires prior registration. The full programme is available on the official website of the Portuguese Industrial Tourism Network.

For the Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, Berta Cabral, industrial tourism is an important tool for promoting the Region’s productive heritage, diversifying the tourism offer and mitigating seasonality.

The government official defended that the future Azores Industrial Tourism Route could attract visitors all year round and involve all islands in the archipelago, promoting a more balanced and comprehensive form of tourism development.

According to Berta Cabral, industrial tourism should not be confined to museum spaces. It should also incorporate active industry and companies currently engaged in production, as “it is just as important for tourists to visit a museum as it is to visit a plant, be it a tea, tobacco, tinned food, ceramics or other type of plant.”

The Regional Secretary also emphasised that the inclusion of operational industrial sites, as well as former industrial infrastructure converted into visitor attractions, helps preserve the Azores’ industrial heritage, create authentic experiences for visitors and generate economic value for local communities.

For Berta Cabral, the creation of the Azores Industrial Tourism Route represents “another important step forward for tourism in the Azores,” bolstering the Region’s position as a diverse, sustainable and competitive tourist destination.