1 - "Vale do Lima - A project for the territory, a project for the future"
It all began three decades ago with the creation of ADRIL. Formally established in 1991 and articulated with the Rural Development Association movement in the Vale do Lima region, ADRIL managed, from the outset, European Initiative Programs, namely LEADER I, also based on the management of strategies participated by local agents, financed by public funds and oriented towards integrated and sustainable development.
Biographical notes
Manuel de Carvalho Sousa has a degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Évora and a Master's in Heritage and Tourism from the University of Minho.
Landscape Architect, works in terms of land use planning, urban planning, as well as Environmental Impact Studies and Sustainable Development.
Higher Education Professor at IPVC - Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo and at ISAG - Higher Institute of Administration and Management, in Porto, he is President of the Management Body of ADRIL - Integrated Rural Development Association of Lima.
He is also Vice-President of TURIHAB - Housing Tourism Association and owner of Casa de Alfena - Housing Tourism.
2 - "..."
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Author: Dr. Vitorino Viana
Vice-Presidente do Município de Viana do Castelo
Email: vitorino@cm-viana-castelo.pt
Biographical notes
Vice-Presidente da Câmara Municipal de Viana do Castelo
3 - “Solares de Portugal, the Rich Legacy of Portugal’s Architectural and Cultural Heritage”
I would like, as president ofTURIHAB – Associação do Turismo de Habitaçãoto present you my own Portuguese perspective of the origins, operation, and future of this association and of this style of high quality, culturally based in Historic Housing Tourism.
Along with the owners we were able to create, in the village of Ponte de Lima (Vale do Lima) in the Minho region of Portugal, one association TURIHAB. The members of this association worked together since 1983 to establish Turismo de Habitação as an identifiable accommodation type in Portugal offering hospitality to a wide range of international visitors as well as to many people in Portugal keen to enjoy a holiday in these surroundings.
TURIHAB become a larger association, in our days have 130 members. Our members have individually and collectively worked to continually improve the nature of their offer by adding value and guarantee the quality.
Our experience in the 1980’s led us to the view that, in order to create further impact upon the international market, it was necessary to create a “brand” identity for our accommodation product.
With this in mind, the members of TURIHAB successfully launched in 1993 "Solares de Portugal” to market this distinctive style of accommodation for all of Portugal. The name “Solares” is used in Portugal to describe unique and authentic family homes, which is a good description of many of our properties. In addition, we felt it expressed the warmth of Portugal and of the Portuguese people. “You arrive as a guest and you leave as a friend”.
Author: Francisco Silva de Calheiros e Menezes
President of TURIHAB – Housing Tourism Association
Email: fcalheiros@turihab.pt
Biographical notes
Eng. Francisco Silva de Calheiros e Menezes has extensive experience in the creation, promotion and leadership of national and international associations, such as TURIHAB, ADRIL and Europa Traditionae Consortium, through which he gained specific experience in the field of Tourism in Rural Areas and Rural Development. Combining this experience with her academic training, as she completed her Master's Degree in Tourism, with the Thesis: “Tourism as a Driver for Rural Development”, she has cooperated intensively with several organizations and entities at local, regional, national and international levels.