Matosinhos highlights cultural and industrial heritage at the Lisbon Tourism Exchange

The Matosinhos City Council and the Tourism of Porto and North Portugal (TPNP) significantly marked their presence on the second day of the Lisbon Tourism Exchange (BTL). Matosinhos' strategy aimed to showcase its potential, not only from the perspective of cultural and historical heritage, but also by emphasising its relevant role in the industrial tourism segment.

Marta Pontes, the City Councillor for Economic Development, Commerce and Tourism of Matosinhos, took the opportunity for an informal conversation with the city's four partners in this Industrial Tourism project - Casa da Cerveja - SuperBock Group, Conserveira Pinhais, APDL - Titan, and Companhia das Conservas-Portugal Norte. This was a moment to share experiences, challenges, and future projects, highlighting the importance of industrial tourism as yet another differentiating factor for Matosinhos.

At the same time, the participation of historical characters from the dramatised tours of Matosinhos municipal museums, who emerged from the Matosinhos Memory Museums and the Santiago Farmhouse, added a vibrant and interactive dimension to the event. This initiative allowed visitors to have an immersive and educational experience, aligned with the city's rich history and cultural heritage.

The combination of these two approaches, focused on industrial and cultural heritage, is part of a coherent and multifaceted tourism development strategy. On the one hand, the city celebrates its industrial identity, which is a significant contribution to the local and regional economy. On the other, it showcases the value of its historical and cultural heritage as a means to attract a more diverse audience and provide a more complete and authentic tourism offer.

This dual focus reflects a well-founded strategic vision, which aims to promote sustainable economic development and job creation in the local tourism sector. Simultaneously, it contributes to the sector's resilience, through diversifying the offer and stimulating the territorial competitiveness of Matosinhos.

Matosinhos balances the promotion of its rich history and cultural heritage with its fundamental role in industrial tourism. This approach provides a solid platform for the city to continue developing its tourism sector while maintaining its authenticity and enhancing its unique identity.