The "BOOST, Building Better Tourism" conference took place at the Cruise Terminal, under the aegis of Nest - Tourism Innovation Centre, and with the support of the Municipality of Matosinhos. This event, dedicated to the potential of green tourism and the incorporation of technology in the tourism sector, brought together more than 50 national and international speakers, as well as 15 start-ups from various countries, totalling about 200 participants.
The conference focused on the relevance of digital transformation for tourism and the challenges inherent in aligning sustainable growth with social responsibility. Matosinhos stood out in the discussion about industrial tourism, with the participation of the Councillor for Economic Development, Tourism and Trade of the Municipality, Marta Pontes.
Marta Pontes emphasised that "industrial tourism harmonises perfectly with our identity and strategy for the tourism sector". The councillor recalled the concentrated efforts in gastronomy, the coastline and boardwalks, water sports, architectural tourism, Matosinhos' presence in the Camino de Santiago, and, more recently, in industrial tourism. Indeed, Matosinhos was one of the first municipalities to embrace Tourism of Portugal's "Discovering Industrial Tourism" initiative.
After a significant drop during the pandemic years, the recovery in 2022 marked a milestone, being considered "the best year ever for Matosinhos" in terms of tourism. According to the mayor, compared to 2019, there was a 5% growth in attendance at the municipality's tourist offices last year, highlighting the resilience and dynamism of the local tourism sector.
