The awarding of tourism merit medals resumed this year and is a government initiative aimed to distinguish national or foreign individuals and institutions that have contributed to the development of national tourism and the recognition of Portugal as a tourist destination.

The medals highlighted “people who have made a very important contribution to position Portugal as the best tourist destination in the world”, according to the minister of economy, Manuel Caldeira Cabral.

The secretary of state for tourism, Ana Mendes Godinho said that “as Portugal is a #cantskip destination, there are also #cantskip people for tourism in Portugal”.