Tourism development in Alentejo

: the case of an integrated resort project

Abstract

Tourism is one of the most important sectors in the World. According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) it accounts for 9% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), generates 1 in 11 jobs, and represents 6% of total world exports. The same organization noted a record 1.087 million international tourists in 2013 and predicts that in 2030 this figure will reach 1.8 billion. For Portugal specifically, is one of the most important economic activities developed in the country. The main objective of this dissertation, written in the form of a case study, is to study an Integrated Resort project for a property (Alcube) in the Alentejo region by analyzing the purposed features for the Resort, the target market, the marketing and financial aspects of the project, and also what are the specific issues that should be considered when developing a project of this nature. With the present dissertation we strive to address the question of what are the possible alternative tourism projects that can be developed in the property. Firstly, we present a literature review that provides an overview of tourism, its main trends, sustainable tourism development, alternative forms of tourism, integrated resorts and residential tourism, and general tourism behavior and motivation of tourists. We then analyze the aspects of the Integrated Resort project and suggest two alternative tourism developments. Lastly, we briefly present possible competitors to take into account. We conclude with some final remarks and limitations of the study; we also suggest some future research topics.

Date of Award	16 Feb 2015
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Susana Frazão Ferreira Fernandes Pinheiro (Supervisor)