"It seems to me that at this point, within the various lines that we have been working on, we need to instigate greater communication, better communication, more positive, more assertive, more continuous about the destination of Portugal and all the various assets we have", said Rita Marques.

The official, who spoke to the Lusa agency on the side-lines of the inauguration of the first motorhome area in Ponte de Sor, in the district of Portalegre, recalled that Portugal was recognised for three consecutive years as the “best tourist destination in the world”, a situation that calls for the Portuguese to defend this sector with the foreign market.

“Turismo de Portugal has been financing motorhome areas, so far 41 motorhome service areas involving 27 municipalities have been approved, with a total value of two million Euros. This set will add, very soon, another five with a support value of 464 thousand Euros”, underlined Rita Marques.

In the same session, the Alentejo and Ribatejo Autocaravanism Service Area Network project was also presented, supported by the Valorizar programme, by the president of the Regional Tourism Entity (ERT) of Alentejo and Ribatejo, Ceia da Silva.

This project, which includes the motorhome area of ??Ponte de Sor, is involved in the programme “For a Responsible Autocaravanismo”, and aims to create and rehabilitate 49 service areas by May 2021, in a total of 638 new places to tourists.

In her speech, Rita Marques also highlighted that, within the scope of the Valorizar programme, the Government supported 31 projects in Alentejo, which represents “37 percent” of all projects approved under the programme [supported 85 projects], representing an investment of 8.4 million Euros, with an “incentive” of 5.2 million Euros.