Following the quest for a sustainable and inclusive development model of tourism growth, Braga will never assume itself as a “Theme Park”, making available to those who visit us the same experiences and resources that guarantee, in first instance, the quality of life of the residents.

As it is statistically proven, tourism in Braga has given an exponential leap in the last 9 years, measured by the number of visitors, overnight stays, revenue, investments in the sector and creation of new companies and projects.

From a strategic point of view, in close collaboration with local and national agents of the sector (here with special emphasis on the Regional Entity of Tourism of Porto and North and the Tourism Association of Porto and North, ATP, whose Board of Directors we are part of the last years), the Municipality of Braga has strongly invested in promotion, in the quality improvement of the tourism offer, and in the training of professionals in the sector.

In terms of national and international attractiveness, Braga was a diamond that really needed to be cut, that is, to make itself known in all its potentialities. The work on promotion that started in the autumn of 2013, today considered as normal and sustained, was based on a set of initiatives carried out in partnership with various agents of the region and which culminated with the award of “Best European Destination” in 2021. On that occasion, we collected 109,902 votes from internet users, consolidating us as a destination of excellence and a reference in international tourism, after having already been considered the Second Best European Destination in 2019. From the total number of votes in the City of Braga, 72% referred to participants outside the national territory, a sign that demonstrates Braga’s projection at an international level.

The affluence of visitors to the Braga Tourism Office is one of the main indicators of tourist demand. This year, the number of visitors (about 300,000 by the end of August) is gradually approaching the 2019 figures, which marked a historical record. In terms of source markets, Portugal, Spain and France remain the most representative. The United Kingdom, Brazil, the Netherlands, Italy and the United States are other significant markets.

In 2019, Braga registered a tourist growth above the national average, being the best tourist year ever with about 640,000 overnight stays. The increase of Braga’s brand notoriety, inside and outside Portugal, was a clear municipal bet. The goal has been to increase the number of tourists, the length of each stay, and their distribution throughout the year. In this effort, the municipality’s tourism professionals have been fundamental in achieving these goals: planning and promoting Braga as a destination, supporting the sector’s entrepreneurs, and attracting new investors and tourism development.

For the international recognition of the destination were also fundamental the distinctions of Bom Jesus as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where from the first moment we were involved with all our energy; the classification of Braga as a UNESCO Creative City in Media Arts; the hosting of the European City of Sports in 2018 or the Atlantic Axis Capital of Culture in 2020/21; in addition to investments in equipment such as the Municipal Market and the Altice Forum Braga.

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Business Tourism and events, as well as a bold cultural strategy, have thus assumed a growing importance in combating the tourist seasonality and the attraction of increasingly differentiated and qualified audiences.

The Tourism Office, which began operating with extended hours – including weekends and holidays – was distinguished with Tripadvisor’s Travelers Choice 2020, an award it had already received in 2017 and 2019. Also the renowned British publication ́The Luxury Travel Guide ́ distinguished Braga as “European Heritage Destination of the year 2017”.

In addition to the works carried out in the Tourism Office in Central Avenue, the Tourism Shop at the Train Station was opened, and the creation of a Tourism Office in Sameiro was supported.

In this period, several relevant international publications have given Braga visibility as a destination of choice, with special emphasis on City Breaks and Senior Tourism. In these years, several reports and documentaries on Braga’s tourist resources were also produced, especially directed to the Brazilian, French, Spanish and British markets.

In 2020, the months of January and February saw the best year ever in terms of demand, due to the planning and forecasting of major events and congresses scheduled in the various multicultural spaces of Braga. For obvious reasons, 2020 was a completely atypical year and, with the first confinement, the focus of the Municipality was centered on the support to the professionals of the sector, carrying out a constant strategy of communication regarding the support options to entrepreneurs, informing and clarifying how they could develop their activity given the imposed restrictions.

Accompanying specialized journalists, influencers and tour operators on press trips is another task and investment carried out along with the permanent renewal of tourism materials such as itineraries, maps and applications.

The promotion of a greater interaction between visitors and the city led to the availability of the Visit Braga app and website, taking advantage of the increasingly expanded infrastructure of the free WI-FI Braga access network, as well as the production of several promotional videos.

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The internationalization of Braga Municipality has been reinforced by being present at multiple national and international tourism fairs, such as Fitur – International Tourism Fair of Madrid; Navartur – International Tourism Fair of the Kingdom of Navarra in Pamplona; Xantar – International Gastronomic Tourism Fair, Ourense; Salon des Vacances at Brussels Expo in Brussels; B-Travel Fair in Barcelona; Salon Mondial du Tourisme in Paris; Expovacaciones in Bilbao; Turexpo Galicia – Galicia Tourism Fair – Spain; World Travel Show, Warsaw Tourism Fair – Poland; Intur – Valladolid Tourism Fair – Spain; Comptoir Helvetique in Lausanne in Switzerland.

Also worth noting was the creation of the Tourism Development Advisory Council, the promotion of the Tourism Galas and the Tourism Forum, as well as informal initiatives to select tourist agents.

A special note goes for the collaboration with the training entities, from the Braga Regional Center of the Catholic University to the various Professional Schools that train resources in this domain.

It is also important to mention the important role that we had, and still have, in the promotion of the Way of St. James (Caminhos de Santiago) along the governmental and cultural entities on both sides of the border, but also investing more than 150.000€ in the signage and qualification of the routes that cross Braga.

Braga has also tried to contribute to a greater articulation of the Minho Municipalities through the Minho Innovation consortium, and to a growing promotion of the sharing of tourist resources between the North of Portugal and Galicia, through the Atlantic Axis.

At the international level, Braga was part of the URBACT ‘Tourism Friendly Cities’ network and was invited by the World Tourism Organization to put together the report that was to be presented in 2023 on best practices.

Proof of the tourism success are the new hotels, the refurbishment of the existing ones, the exponential growth of the local accommodation offer, where we went from 19 registers in 2015 to the current 530, as well as the countless restaurant spaces that increasingly reinforce Braga as a destination of excellence in eno-gastronomy.

Braga has been able to conciliate the development of the tourism sector, with the needs of those who live here, since this same growth has not led to the desertification of the historical center and has not been a constraint factor for the local citizens. We have shown a welcoming spirit and the local Bracarenses have integrated themselves in this increasingly multicultural and cosmopolitan reality, a result of the many tourists coming from various international markets choosing to visit the city.

This is yet another demonstration that Braga is presenting itself as a dynamic pendulum that is driving the sustainable development of the region.

L’article Braga has won a place in the spotlight and it was not by chance est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

GreenFest was born 13 years ago, in Cascais, Portugal, thanks to Pedro Norton de Matos, who has always believed in the importance of bringing together the best examples, the best innovative practices and the agents of all sectors that give them body, as an instrument to promote a collective commitment with this theme.

Back then, sustainability would certainly not have had today’s leading role, whether in the political priorities of the different Government structures, in the values ​​of the business fabric or in the focuses of interest of most citizens.

In a year like this, talking about sustainability is also a demonstration that it is important to address the most pressing issues of everyday life (such as fighting the Covid-19 pandemic), nevertheless we can’t neglect a long-term, integrative and mobilizing vision, such as sustainable development.

For more and more cities, this is a topic that is at the forefront of their priorities, and Braga did not want to be left out of this trend.

At international level, Braga was listed as one of the 88 best cities in the world in the fight against climate change and distinguished with “class A” by the Carbon Disclosure Project.

At a national level, Braga was for the first time distinguished with the Green Flag EcoXXI award, awarded annually by the Blue Flag Europe Association to the Portuguese municipalities.

Also at a national level, Braga is at the forefront in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with an execution of around 70% of these, according to the independent Center for Public Opinion Studies (CESOP is part of the Portuguese Catholic University).

The importance of monitoring performances encouraged us to take on a new purpose, embodied in the public presentation of our first Sustainability Report, which is in itself a measure of transparency and thoroughness on the part of the municipality.

Furthermore, as it is strategically framed, fully adapted to the territory and commitments for the coming years, and contains a common municipal structure that responds to the information needs of different interest groups. Our Sustainability Report is an accelerator of these objectives, with a strong impact across the board.

L’article GreenFest where Sustainability is the word est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

But Braga also attracts other types of events. Those who mix the religious aspect with the profane or others of non-religious character such as “Braga Romana”, a kind of return to the past or update of history, evoking the period in which the city lived under Roman occupation, being extremely influential at its height. Braga is also recognized for its beautiful landscapes (Bom Jesus, Sameiro, Falperra) and has a gastronomy that consoles even the most demanding stomachs. It is still a heavily commercial city, with a lot of choice and a fantastic cultural and social life.

The city, with a remarkable university population, also attracts young people in academic exchanges or in visits to friends or family. 

And for everyone there is an offer, either during the day or at night. Nightlife is also an attraction in Braga and academic parties are very popular.  

In both cases, Braga does not shy away from a very Portuguese characteristic: the ability to welcome everyone with great hospitality, coupled with a genuine kindness towards outsiders and a healthy curiosity to get to know different cultures and people, in a climate of respect for differences. 

Braga is a peaceful city. It suggests tranquility, peace and security. It combines development with the quiet tradition of a serene living environment. Its natural beauty inspires contemplation and aesthetic satiety. 

The city’s spell is to be able, in fact, to maintain traditions and reconcile them with innovation. It preserves a beautiful Historic city center with old houses and monuments but, at the same time, adds to it an air of a cosmopolitan city, full of new buildings and new attractions. It combines an ancestral cathedral and old monuments with a Radical Park for young people or the Nanotechnology Institute, for example.

Braga’s future is promising. It is a young city. It is, on the other hand, a city with history. A modernized city that preserves many of its roots and traditions. It has a lot to offer: from a friendliness and ability to welcome visitors, to the tranquility of living, to good shopping, historic monuments and good landscapes and delicious cuisine. It is a city that leaves positive marks on those who visit it, which is the best advertising that can be done for it.  

The past and the future coexist in Braga as, perhaps, nowhere else. 

An example of this is the script I propose here, as a challenge: 

1. In the morning 

At the beginning of the day Braga has to offer countless options for a morning stroll or jog. The ecovia, on the banks of the Rio Este, or Parque da Ponte, a green space right in the center of the city, are excellent spots. Perhaps you can think about extending the activity to the steps of Bom Jesus, a staircase that allows physical exercise better than any workout in the gym.  

At the top of Bom Jesus, you can enjoy the sacred mountains. It is mandatory a visit to Sameiro, where you can enjoy a spectacular view over the city, and Falperra, which in addition to the natural landscape, also has a breathtaking view.

Visitors will always be able to take advantage of the Bom Jesus funicular, the water-powered elevator, one of the few existing in the world, for a descent back to the city. 

Still in the morning, it is advisable, at the other end of the city, to visit the banks of the Cávado River. To enjoy a moment of relaxation and contact with nature in its purest state, the sceneries of Praia Fluvial do Cavadinho, Praia Fluvial de Adaúfe, Ponte do Bico can dazzle anyone. 

After that, and being in that place, a visit to the Monastery of Tibães becomes mandatory, as well as a visit to the Mário Sequeira Gallery. These are two of the hidden treasures of Braga.

2. Afternoon 

In Braga, visitors can enjoy a great gastronomic offer at restaurants overlooking Cávado or Bom Jesus. I don’t want to name any in particular, as we always run the risk of being unfair. However, the gastronomy of the region is mandatory if you are looking for an unforgettable experience. 

In the city center, it is unthinkable not to visit the real ex-libris: the Sé Catedral, the Palácio dos Biscaínhos, the Roman baths, the Dom Diogo de Sousa Museum, the Palácio do Raio and the Porta Nova arch, for example.

In addition to these, there are very interesting places such as the Casa dos Crivos or the Nogueira da Silva Museum, as well as all the local commercial offer, with historic and picturesque shops that are worth a visit. In addition to the big brands, Braga has an offer of very rich local stores. 

In the middle of the afternoon, to regain strength, go to one of the pastry shops, or historic cafes, such as A Brasileira, Café Vianna, Pastelaria Ferreira Capa or Pastelaria Lusitana.

3. Night 

In the evening Braga gains a special magic. The city has a great range of typical gastronomy to choose from. We promise you it will be very difficult to choose.  

The meals offer several associated icons. First of all, the Braga style cod recypt (also called Narcissa Cod), the porridge of sarrabulho, the roasted lamb, the fillets of octopus with rice. All very well made and in generous doses. For something lighter, you can try the famous frying pan, which Eça de Queiroz (the frying pans in the corner) already evoked.

The night has to end with a show at Theatro Circo. The city is teeming with culture, we have several very rich cultural spaces. After the show, you could end the night with a drink in one of the bars in the vibrant area around ​​the Cathedral. 

Braga is increasingly assuming that its doors are open to the future, to the world, without forgetting the strong culture and heritage that characterizes it. These are the reasons why Braga was awarded and recognized with the title of Best European Destination in 2021. Braga is waiting for you.

L’article Braga: the Authentic City est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.