The Centro de Portugal Sustainable Tourism Observatory is an autonomous service of the E.R.T. (Regional Tourism Entity), with scientific support in a collaborative network of researchers from universities and polytechnics located in the Centro de Portugal Region.
Understanding the complex realities of tourism is fundamental to the planning and management of tourist destinations. There is an increasing need for monitoring tourism activity, based on reliable and comprehensive indicators, through the regular consultation of all stakeholders in order to fill the existing gap in information.
In this regard, the Centro de Portugal Sustainable Tourism Observatory plays a crucial role in supporting decision-making for all businesses and public decision-makers in the region.
The Observatory aims to be a reference in the production and availability of information on Centro de Portugal, as a support to the management of the destination, contributing to decision-making based on adequate and timely knowledge of the complex realities of tourism.
The mission of the Observatory is to promote the knowledge of the tourism activities and its impacts on the territories, in a double perspective (transversal or intersectoral and longitudinal or evolutionary), in an independent and responsible way, ensuring the technical and scientific suitability of the obtained data, in order to contribute to the increase of competitiveness and sustainability of tourism in the Centro de Portugal region.
Objectives
General Objectives
- Tourists’ profile, motivations, satisfaction and behaviors;
- Demand and supply of specific tourism products;
- Quantitative indicators of tourism demand (namely, guests, overnight stays, seasonality, length of stay, market shares);
- Supply-related indicators (accommodation capacity and occupancy rates);
- Supply of and demand for cultural, recreational and leisure services;
To address information gaps in the following areas:
Specific Objectives
- Providing information through regular publications.
- Monitoring the evolution of the tourism sector and the main trends.
- To maintain a continuously updated database with general access.
- To ensure the reliability, coherence and relevance of the information produced.
- To meet the information needs of local tourism stakeholders.
- Carry out relevant sectoral and sub-sectoral studies, from the perspective of decision-makers.
- Encourage the decision-making process based on the information produced.
In order to address these gaps, the Observatory assumes:
International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO)
Since October 2023 the Centro de Portugal Sustainable Tourism Observatory (OTSCP) has been part of INSTO, a international network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories created by UN Tourism, with the aim of monitoring the economic, environmental, and social impacts of tourism, sharing knowledge and experiences at an internationally level, based on the commitment to promote sustainable and resilient growth in the tourism sector. For further information about INSTO, click here.