Portugal 'becoming a geo-tourism hotspot'

Portugal is reportedly becoming an increasingly popular destination for 'geo-tourism' - travel that has a sustaining or beneficial effect on the geographical nature of a destination and the well-being of its people.

The annual European Geoparks Conference will be held in Portugal this month, boosting the country's status as a "world-class geo-tourism destination", according to the national tourist board.

At the centre of the industry is the Naturtejo park, which is located about 200km from Lisbon and covers an area of 4,617 square kilometres comprising river gorges, waterfalls, granite land formations and other natural features.

Visitors can try out activities including kayaking on the Tagus and Zezere rivers and hiking along a 439km network of walking trails in the park.

Similar geo-tourism opportunities are on offer in Portugal's Azores archipelago and the Porto Santo Islands.

Miguel Perestrello, the Portuguese director of tourism in the UK, said: "Geo-tourism is an effective way of stimulating economic activity whilst promoting sustainable tourism.

"We want to offer a whole range of tourism products, starting from the typical sun and sea holiday to the geo-tourism or eco-tourism nature breaks which encourage the preservation of our geological heritage and natural surroundings."

Posted by Carrie, 10 September 2009 12:41

News tags

• Lisbon