Knowledge documents
16 January 2026
The Future of Tourism: Data-Driven Policies for People and Planet
Knowledge documents
16 January 2026
Adventure tourism
Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism
Cultural tourism
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Portugal and global partners are revolutionizing tourism policy with innovative, data-driven approaches. This paradigm shift focuses on sustainability, competitiveness, and resilience to prioritize the wellbeing of communities and ecosystems rather than just increasing visitor numbers.
OECD Cogito
OECD
Topics
Portugal
Destination Management & Marketing Organisations
Local Authorities
National authorities
Regional Authorities
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Specific types of tourism
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Adventure tourism
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Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism
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Cultural tourism
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Ecotourism
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Education tourism
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Festival tourism
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Gastronomy tourism
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Health and medical tourism
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MICE tourism
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Mountain tourism
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Religious tourism
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Rural tourism
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Sports tourism
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Urban/city tourism
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Wellness tourism
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Transition Pathway Strategic Areas
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Governance of tourism destinations
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Improving statistics and indicators
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Innovative tourism services
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Tools for data on tourism
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Tourism strategies
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Business activities
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Activities of amusement parks and theme parks
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Activities of associations and other organisations supporting tourism
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Air passenger transport
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Camping grounds, recreational vehicle parks and trailer parks
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Events catering and other food services
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Festivals, cultural and entertainment activities
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Gardens and nature reserves activities
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Holiday Housing / Apartments and other short stay accommodation
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Hotel and similar accommodation
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Mobile beverage services
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Mobile food services
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Museums
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Operation of historical sites
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Other
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Other accommodation
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Other amusement and recreation activities
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Other food and beverage services
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Other holiday reservation services
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Other tourism transportation activities
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Rail Passenger transport
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Recreational and sport activities
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Restaurants, cafes and bars (Food and Beverage serving activities)
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Road passenger transport
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Tour operator activities
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Travel agency activities
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Water (sea, coastal and inland) passenger transport
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In a world where tourism is recognized as a powerful engine for positive change, Portugal stands at the forefront of innovation, reinventing its policies to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global landscape. This shift, as outlined in OECD reports backed by the European Commission's DG Reform, emphasizes a vision where success is measured not only economically but also by its impact on communities and environments.
At the heart of this transformation is the use of smart, sustainable tourism indicators at regional and local levels. Through initiatives like Portugal's Destination Watch, policymakers gain access to actionable insights, allowing them to monitor tourism impacts and effectively address challenges such as emissions, resource pressures, and resident sentiment. This network empowers destinations to redefine tourism's role, promoting strategies aligned with quality of life.
Redefining competitiveness, Portugal has adopted a novel framework that fuses traditional metrics with new dimensions like resilience, digital readiness, and community wellbeing. This approach allows regions to shape their future with precision, driving targeted investments and innovative governance.
Anticipating the future is key, as tourism faces numerous vulnerabilities. Portugal's groundbreaking national tourism demand forecasting model combines official statistics with alternative data to deliver forward-thinking insights. This tool transforms static planning into dynamic anticipation, preparing the sector for potential futures and enabling informed resource allocation.
The narrative of smarter, faster decision-making is realized through platforms like TravelBI, supported by a national commitment to tourism innovation. It calls for collaboration between the public and private sectors, emphasizing that effective tourism policy is a shared responsibility.
Ultimately, the overarching goal is clear: Make tourism work for people. Through bold, evidence-based policies, Portugal endeavours to enhance quality of life, build resilient communities, and ensure tourism remains a positive force.
For those eager to delve deeper into this transformative journey, the full article offers profound insights, along with the comprehensive reports available here, providing a richer perspective on how tourism can indeed become a catalyst for global good.
#Sustainable tourism #Community-based tourism #Tourism sustainability indicators #Destination management #Innovation in tourism
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