‘Gateway’ to tourism in the Territory celebrates four years of existence
On 17 September 2020, the Alto Tâmega e Barroso Tourist Office (PTAT) was inaugurated, at the time a unique project in the country. To date, more than 51,000 visitors have entered this infrastructure.
Four years have passed since the inauguration of what was claimed to be the ‘gateway’ to tourism in Alto Tâmega e Barroso. The idea, at the time, was to create a unique project in the country that would bring together in a single space an integrated promotion of the six municipalities that make up this Region: Boticas, Chaves, Montalegre, Ribeira de Pena, Valpaços and Vila Pouca de Aguiar.
Ramiro Gonçalves, First Executive Secretary of the Alto Tâmega e Barroso Intermunicipal Community (CIMAT), described the space as ‘a unique project in the country. An example of will, concertation, unity, resilience and ambition… a source of pride for everyone!’ These singularities continue today, as it is still the only space of its kind in the country, reinforcing the union and efforts of these six mayors in favour of the development and success of a single Region.
Tourist data
Over these four years, there have been more than 51,000 arrivals in this area. PTAT was born in the middle of the pandemic, which did not favour the statistics for the first year. However, with the easing of restrictions, there was a significant increase in tourists in the region, as they were also looking for places with the characteristics and conditions offered by Alto Tâmega e Barroso.
As of 31 August this year, there had been 1,0507 entries into the PTAT, 1,530 more than in the same period last year. Something that has remained constant over the last few years are the two products most sought after by tourists: Cultural (historical and museological heritage), with a total of 24899 searches, and National 2, totalling 18726.
With regard to the characteristics of the tourists, the most frequent nationalities are Portuguese, Spanish and French, and the most common age group is between 40 and 50 years old.
The positive balance of these years of PTAT’s existence mirrors what can be observed throughout the Territory: a large influx of people, noted in particular by restaurants and hotels, not only during what is considered the high season, but also in the remaining months of the year, namely when major local events take place.
Also noteworthy are the 90 or so initiatives carried out in this space, such as exhibitions in a wide variety of areas and promotions of events in the region.
