At the invitation of the Mértola Heritage Protection Association, the Aldeias do Xisto participated in the seminar Sustainable Tourism: Development, Tourism, and Sustainability in Emerging Destinations, which took place from 6 to 8 June in Santo Antão, Cape Verde.

Part of the panel Sharing Best National and International Practices in Sustainable Tourism, the presentation by the Coordinator of ADXTUR - Schist Villages Tourism Development Agency focused on the strategy of enhancing the Aldeias do Xisto’s own resources in the tourism sector and related activities, promoting the integrated development of community, place, culture, and nature. Rui Simão also presented the digital promotion strategy and commercial animation of the opportunities offered by the Aldeias do Xisto through Bookinxisto, a multi-service reservations platform that is fair trade, without intermediaries or third parites and available in 5 languages.

The ADXTUR Coordinator said that tourism is a factor in promoting cooperation and the "development of tourism activity has to be coherent with the trends of modern thought, necessarily ecological, responsible, and respecting cultural identities".

Cape Verde is an internationally recognised tourist destination. The need to guarantee the sustainable management of tourist destinations, ensuring the preservation and enhancement of local identity, heritage, and values, was behind this International Seminar. The initiative brought together diverse bodies operating in the sector, focusing on a variety of approaches to tourism and its impact on the country's social and economic development.

View the conclusions of this Seminar in the file below.