For the contribution “decisive” for “the way Portugal and perceived in the world, for having helped to project the image of a free, cultured and modern country”, and for having recognized the importance of tourism as a fundamental pillar, not onlyfrom of the Portuguese economy, “as well as the preservation of the Portuguese ‘way of being’”, Francisco Pinto Balsemão was awarded the titlefromstumo with Prandmy Personality.
“We were notfrom nfroms we became orphans, it was an entire country, of a man who lived his entire life guided by making this world better”, highlighted Mónica Balsemson, daughter and Director of Estrat Projectsandof the Impresa Group.
O Prandmy Personality distinguishes those who stand out for their boldness, entrepreneurial spirit and contribution to the development, recognition or strengthening of the positioning of the Tourism sector.
Ana Rosas Oliveira, administrator of BPI, presented Ana Alcobia (right), founder of Time Out Market in Lisbon, with the second Personality Award of the night.
FRANCISCO ROMÃO PEREIRA/EXPRESS
In this edition, the jury awarded a second prizeandmio distinguishing Ana Alcobia, Iberia Vice-President at Time Out Market, for her role in promoting Portugal as a gastronomic destinationfrommonkeybut alsoandm for the way he achieved it, throughands of the project Time Out Marketcombining culture and tourism, valuing heritageonio storyrich, cities and their communities. “When you see a spectacular idea, you think it wasn’t made here. But it was a Portuguese team that created Time Out Market Lisboa. Most international markets are designed in the Ribeira market. Noo hThere is no market that does not have wood from Paços de Ferreira, Portuguese tiles or cotton. There is always a need to reinforce that it was our idea and that it continues to benefit companies in Portugal”, highlights the founder of the brand’s market in Lisbon, which received four million visitors this year and whose concept has already expanded to 13 cities around the world.
This Tuesday, November 25th, the Pavilhão de Portugal, in Lisbon, was the stage chosen to announce the winners of theétima edition of PRandmio Nacional de Turismo (PNT), an initiative by Expresso and BPI, which distinguishes companies, public projects and personalities in the sector in Portugal.
Greater balance between visitors and residents
Eduardo Brito-Henriques, Professor at the Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning at the University of Lisbon, presented the main conclusions of the Tourism Barometer
FRANCISCO ROMÃO PEREIRA/EXPRESS
When opening theandtima edition of the PNT, Ana Rosas Oliveira, administrator of BPI, and Ricardo Costa, Chief Content Officer of the Impresa Group, drew attention to the importance of tourism as one of the main drivers of economic development. “Estimates reveal that tourism represents almost 17% of GDP. It is almost twice as much as 15 years ago. It is a dynamism that can be felt throughout the country he isis increasingly integrated into communities”, describes Ana Rosas Oliveira.
Ricardo Costa highlights the impact that the activity has on territorial cohesion. “It is one of the sectors with the greatest capacity to settle, take and bring people and dynamism to many regions.what isare outside Lisbon and Porto. Portugal can be one espandcompany of hub of national and international talent and this cannot be done without having very strong tourism”.
Eduardo Brito-Henriques, Professor at the Institute of Geography and Territorial Planningfromrio from the University of Lisbon, presented the main conclusions of the Barfrommetro of Tourism, published by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation, and which shows a society that values the sector, but asks that it be managed with greater balance between visitors and residents. “There are two conclusions that surprised me. The high ninlevel of agreement among residents (49%) on the need to limit number of visitors in certain areas of the country, and the fact that 57.4% agree with the need for polintics that control local accommodation, due to the problems it is causing in the housing supply, and the desire for the government to encourage other economic activitiesfrommicas to avoid dependenceehnce of the economy of the tourism sectorstic”.
At the end of the ceremonyfromnia, Catarina Paiva, Member of the Board of Directors of Tourism of Portugal, recalled that Portugal and today the 12th most competitive country in the worldbut these results raise the demandehof the challenges. “Tourism must have an even more responsible, sustainable and resilient positioning”, he argues, highlighting the importance of “companies aligned with this innovative and sustainable vision, with transformative projects for tourism and a positive impact on the territoriesfromrivers, which improve the quality of life for the communities where they are located”.
Meet the 2025 winners of the National Tourism Award
Herdade da Cortesia
Blue Tourism (new category)
Herdade da Cortesia
Designed from scratch to host rowing, canoeing, triathlon and open water swimming stages, it uses the Maranhão Dam as a central resource for the development of its tourist activity, and offers all the conditions to welcome elite athletes, Olympic teams, national teams from around the world and visitors interested in sport and well-being, who alsoandThere they benefit from direct contact with nature. Pioneering project in Alto Alentejo, the Herdade da Cortesia and led by a former high-competition athlete and has recently invested in the integration of new spaces such as deck yoga, walking trails, paddle tennis courts, meeting roomtions and rental of sports equipment, diversifying the offer. The project has a special impact on ensuring the preservationan accountinua of the water plane; in combat has pollutionoe has seasonality in inland tourism and the creation of opportunities and investments in the area, which boost local accommodation, restaurants and food services.andengaging ratio.
Community Tourism (new category)
Half School
The project is distinguished by a holistic and inclusive approach, which goes beyondandm of formation tandtechnique of refugees and immigrants, by strengthening support networks and reducing situations of exclusion, with a strong focus on reinforcing self-esteem, autonomy and cultural integration, paying special attention hasmigrant women, often in a more vulnerable situation. With the aim of responding has lack of meof qualified work in businessfromlocal authorities, the project Half School includes a six-month training programandcnico-prpractice at a hotel school and a practical component in the living room and kitchen at the Mezze restaurant, in Lisbon, and other partner restaurants. Includes mfromPortuguese dulosehs, financial literacy, labor law and personal development and, at the end of the training, the association provides the bridge to forward internships, many of which become contracts. The Mezze restaurant also functions as a showcase for the project, with an open kitchen and shared menus that allow visitors to learn about the initiative and contact the trainees.
Bolhão Market
Guilherme Oliveira
Tourism Orehantique
Bolhão Market
Fatherlandonio storyrich and architectfromUnique, with local cultural identity, this centuries-old market in Porto underwent a rehabilitation process that included the contribution of historic traders.fromrich, 65% of whom returned to space when the doors reopened in 2022. Today the Bolhão Market recovered its original function as a fresh market, authenticity in the sellers’ auctions and added has tradition, an aspect of leisure and gastronomy, with a restaurant spaceo, on the top floor. In addition to bringing together different concepts, will source part of the ingredients from the market, promoting the circular economy and direct return to traders. Since reopening, it has received more than 15 million visitors and,andOne of the fruit, vegetable and flower stalls, it offers guided tours that explore the historyfromria eo patrimfromnio, as well as visits tandtechniques aimed at architects and engineers about building rehabilitationcio. Scultural events are also promoted, showcookingsschool activities and food literacy actions.
Bioma Restaurant, on Pico island
Gastron Tourismfrommonkey
Bioma Restaurant
Located in Lajes do Pico, in the Azores, it offers an experienceehgastronomicbonded mica has sustainability, nature and heritage appreciationfromnio açorian. It is differentiated by the pr connectionfromxima with local farmers, fishermen and breeders, investing in espandcies from the products orfromctones, such as Ramo Grande DOP meat, one of the symbols of the house, worked entirely to value each cut and support the sustainability of producers, with the founders, the chefs Rafael and Franco played a decisive role in the local DOP certification on the island of Pico, by preventing animals from having to be sent to São Miguel to obtain this certification. THE Bioma Restaurant has a transformative role in the community, and shows that a bold proposal for fine dining can be successful outside of large centers and away from Pico’s most visited tourist attractions. The project also generates a positive environmental impact with circular economy practices, composting, organic gardenfromtechnology, full use of food and use of renewable energy.
Inclusive Tourism
Access Lab
Consulting and services company, Access Lab is dedicated to ensuring accessibility for people with disabilitiesehnce, neurodivergenceehnce and deaf to experienceehcultural, sporting, tourist and business areas. It works by eliminating physical, sensory and communication barriers, with personalized solutions such as audio description, adaptation to Portuguese Sign Language, vibrat vestsfromrivers and sensory break rooms. ThroughandThrough active listening to the community, adapted responses are created, which promote inclusive and welcoming spaces for all audiences.lics and their specific needsifics, and that tehm a direct effect on social inclusion and the transformation of the cultural and tourism sectorstico, reaching thousands of people a year at large-scale events. Among the solutionsit’s technofrominnovative techniques already used stand out: the accessibility project at the Festival Belandm Soundcheck, awarded as the most accessible festival of 2024; Access All Areas, focused on accessibility at Altice Arena; the Colete das Emoções project at NOS Alive, which allows has deaf community feel music throughands of vibrations; and the Game On project with UEFA for the Portuguese Football Federation, which aims to include people with disabilitiesehnce at sporting events.
Bolhão Market, in Porto
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The 316 applications submitted has sétima edition of PRandmio Nacional de Turismo were evaluated by the Committeeands Tandtechnicians and a Jury, made up of representatives from different sectors of Portuguese society. Quality and innovation of the offer, customer satisfaction, environmental qualification, operational performance, and contribution to tourism development, were some of the criteriaandrivers considered for this evaluation and election of winners.
O Prandmy National Tourism (PNT) – which has high sponsorship from the Ministandriver of Economy and Digital Transition, the institutional support of Turismo de Portugal, and the support tandtechnician at Deloitte while knowledge partner – aims to promote, encourage and distinguish entities, practices and projects that stand out in the tourism sector.
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