Lisbon, Sept. 28, 2026 (Lusa) - The minister of the economy and territorial cohesion, Castro Almeida, stated on Monday that Portugal possesses the «economic asset» of security, which attracts tourists to the country against a backdrop of war returning to Europe.
«That is why safety is also an economic asset; it does not appear on a hotel bill, nor is it listed on a menu or in a restaurant, but it is a factor when a family chooses a destination,» said the minister at the eighth Tourism Summit, organised by the Portuguese Tourism Confederation (CTP), which is taking place in Lisbon.
Castro Almeida noted that, in addition to a hotel or a city, travellers also choose the security a country offers.
«What does a person really choose when they decide to travel to Portugal? They choose a hotel, a city, a beach or a landscape, but they also choose what they think they know about the country, the trust that Portugal inspires in them, and the security they hope to find,» he said.
«War has returned to Europe; we are witnessing conflicts in other regions, trade tensions, changes to travel routes and periods of great international uncertainty – naturally, all of this influences travellers' decisions,» he added.
He highlighted that Portugal has an advantage over other destinations, thanks to the culture of security that the country has built up, its historic sites, landscapes and beaches; however, he cautioned that such advantages take decades to build and can be lost very easily.
«Portugal has a truly extraordinary advantage here, and we must be aware that advantages such as this take decades to build and can be lost much more quickly,» he said.
With regard to technology, Castro Almeida highlighted its importance, stating that it will play a decisive role in the sector; however, he pointed out that the more technology there is, «the greater the value of that which technology cannot replace».
«Technology will play a decisive role here; artificial intelligence (AI) and the use of data will change the way companies understand their customers, anticipate demand, organise resources and provide services. In tourism, however, there is a particular aspect that we must understand: the more technology we have, the greater the value of what technology cannot replace,» he asserted.
The minister was referring to the «ability to welcome», «knowledge of the local area» and «the attention given to a person – hospitality, in short».
«Technology should make Portuguese tourism more productive, but it must not make it any less human,» he added.
The CTP is holding the 8th Portuguese Tourism Summit today to mark World Tourism Day, which was celebrated on Sunday; the main theme of the event is ‘Portugal and Tourism: A Relationship of Growth'.
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