Alentejo to create business hubs to attract digital nomads
In a bid to boost tourism and desertification, Portugal’s Alentejo region is to set up hubs in a bid to attract digital nomads to the area.
The hope is to breathe new life into the region’s small towns and villages according to the President of the Alentejo and Ribatejo Regional Tourism Board (Entidade Regional de Turismo do Alentejo e Ribatejo).
In an interview with the business daily Negócios, José Santos said: “We want to take advantage of this opportunity and bring new people who, ideally, can stay there,”, recalling the “serious demographic problem” in the Alentejo. “Tourism can be a lever and an instrument to bring people to the region,” he added.
It is one of the points of an ongoing plan to increase tourism activity in the region, which also includes increasing hotel supply, as well as reinforcing the role of Beja airport.
Regarding the creation of “hubs” for digital nomads, José Santos explained that before moving forward with the idea, they had carried out a feasibility study. “Before moving ahead with the plans, we have to make sure we are on the right track,” he pointed out.
The tourism board commissioned a study and hired a team trained by digital nomads because “there’s nothing like having digital nomads themselves to evaluate if the Alentejo and Ribatejo are regions where they would like to set up.”
On completion of the study, carried out during the first half of the year, “5 main hubs and 5 satellites were chosen in each of the sub-regions: Alta Alentejo, Alentejo Central, Baixa Alentejo Litoral and Ribatejo”, he detailed.
The exercise analysed points such as infrastructure, digital connectivity, public and private facilities or, for example, a cultural agenda. “We know that digital nomads seek a rich cultural environment,” noted the president of the board.
In practice, the project will involve setting up a digital platform “to attract the new digital nomads” who will gather all the information required, including that related to accommodation.
As to the planned investment, José Santos said: “The hardware is already done” and we have the co working spaces and digital connectivity.
“Now we will work on marketing to attract digital nomads and initiatives to integrate them into local communities,” he explained.
Setting up the hubs will cost around €500,000 and there are plans to seek funding from the main tourism organisation Turismo de Portugal to finance the project.
