The Prime Minister, Ulisses Correia e Silva, said today he believes that rural tourism will have a “different look” in post-covid-19, not only because of the resumption of confidence but because people/tourists will look for something different.
The head of the Government was speaking in São Jorge, in the municipality of São Lourenço dos Órgãos, during the public presentation of the “Tourist and Environmental Enhancement Program for Rural Villages”, which includes the islands of São Nicolau, Maio, Santiago, Fogo and Brava, and consists of diversifying the tourist offer, improving basic sanitation and increasing the income and quality of life of the population in rural areas in the regions covered.
The objective of this program, to be implemented in the next five years, budgeted at eight million euros, financed through tourism and environment funds, is to contribute to the environmental and tourism enhancement through landscape arrangements, housing rehabilitation, and strengthening of basic sanitation, business promotion and training, and environmental awareness actions.
To support his statement, Ulisses Correia e Silva took the Santo Antão case as an example, referring to the “Raízes de Santo Antão Project”, which for him demonstrates that it is not starting from scratch, taking into account that there are “ various experiences ”on rural tourism.
“In the post-covid-19 people will look for tourism that has contact with nature, experiences and adventures”, he stressed, without, however, excluding the “sun and beach” tourism of the islands of Sal and Boa Vista, not least because, maintained that all tourist products are valid.
For the Chief Executive, in order for this project to achieve the objectives set, it is important to continue the interventions in terms of urban and environmental requalification and sanitation, in partnership with the city councils.
The Prime Minister considered that the municipality of São Lourenço dos Órgãos is an “example” of rural tourism, but recalled that such potential is found “all over the country” and urged the municipality to invest in the professional training of young people and in entrepreneurship facing this sector.
The prime minister has no doubt that this program will have an impact on employment, income and will lift people out of poverty.
For his part, the Mayor of São Lourenço dos Órgãos, Carlos Vasconcelos, expressed satisfaction and gratitude for the choice of the municipality he heads to welcome the act of launching this program, which, according to him, “will certainly make tourism activities compatible with environmental prevention ”.
The ministers of Agriculture and Environment and Tourism and Transport, Gilberto Silva and Carlos Santos, respectively, and the president of the National Association of Municipalities of Cape Verde (ANMCV) and president of the City Council of São Miguel, Herménio Fernandes.
The speakers were unanimous in stating that the “Rural and Tourist Enhancement Program for Rural Villages” will combat poverty, rural exodus, enhance the rural environment and, furthermore, improve people’s quality of life.
Turismo rural vai ter um olhar diferente no pós-covid-19 – Primeiro-ministro – Expresso das Ilhas
