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Portugal is receiving a €30 million grant for developing a Green Hydrogen Hub in Sines via the GreenH2Atlantic project. Construction is expected to start in 2023 and the project should be operational in 2025. GreenH2Atlantic has just obtained the status of Project of National Importance as it will consolidate Sines in Portugal as a Green Hydrogen Hub. It is one out of three projects selected by the EU for the implementation of the Green Deal. The project has received EU funding under the Horizon 2020 programme and comprises a consortium of 13 entities, namely EDP, Galp, ENGIE, Bondalti, Martifer, Vestas Wind Systems A/S, McPhy, and Efacec. The consortium also includes academic research partners ISQ, INESC-TEC and CEA, as well as scientific contributor DLR and the Public Private Partnership Axelera. Sines is Portugal’s Hydrogen Valley and is set to drive sustainability while becoming a major energy contributor for EU countries. The port of Sines is strategically located and provides access to the existent electricity grid and to the region’s industrial infrastructures. GreenH2Atlantic will develop a Hydrogen Production Hub that comprises a 100 MW electrolyser with scalable and fast-cycling 16 MW modules that will provide the flexibility to overcome bottlenecks. Innovative features will include an Advanced Management System that will ensure a reliable supply of H2 while being linked to hybrid renewable power plants from solar and wind energy. The GreenH2Atlantic project will be innovative as it will ensure lower Green Hydrogen production costs through an electrolyser that will be efficiently integrated to renewable energy production. Portugal is efficiently driving the energy transition by transforming a former coal power plant for Green Hydrogen Production. Green Hydrogen is set to become one of Portugal’s pillars of economic growth, a goal that is in line with the EU’s plans for energy transition. The Sines Hydrogen Valley will contribute to the region’s sustainability goals and will be a significant part of the EU’s energy roadmap. Source: https://www.portugalbusinessesnews.com/post/portugal-receives-30-million-grant-for-green-hydrogen-hub #greenhydrogenportugal #sinesportugal #GreenH2Atlantic #EDP #Galp #ENGIE #Bondalti #Martifer #VestasWindSystems #McPhy #Efacec #ISQ #INESCTEC #CEA #DLR #Axelera #portugalnews #portugalbusinessnews

Portuguese exports of goods reach EUR 65.385 million for the period January to October 2022, showing a 25.2% increase compared to 2021. The main export markets are Spain, France and Germany. According to AICEP, exports of goods to the EU market increased by 23.8% for the same period, representing a share of 70.4% of total exports. Spain is the main export market with 26% of goods exported and an export value that has reached EUR 3.196 million, that is an increase of 23.1%. Within the EU, the value of exports to Germany increased by 24.2% and to France increased by 17.8%. The value of goods exported outside the EU has increased by 28.5% compared to 2021 and accounts for 29.6% of total exports. The USA and the UK are the main export markets outside the EU, with the value of exports to the USA increasing by 48.6%. The main export sectors are Machinery and Apparatus that account for a share of 13.7% of goods exported, followed by Vehicles and Other Transport Equipment that account for a share of 12% of goods exported. Portuguese growth sectors include Mineral Fuels with exports that increased by 80.3%, Machinery and Apparatus that increased by 18.5%, Chemicals that increased by 39.6% and Base Metals that increased by 26.2%. Source: https://www.portugalbusinessesnews.com/post/portuguese-exports-reach-eur-65385m #portugueseexports2022 #machineryandapparatusportugal #vehiclesportugal #mineralfuelsportugal #chemicalsportugal #basemetalsportugal #economyportugal #portugalnews #portugalbusinessnews

An Iberian Hydrogen underwater pipeline at a cost of EUR 2.5 billion was just announced by the Prime Ministers of Spain, Portugal and France. The pipeline, that will be used to export Green Hydrogen to EU countries, is expected to be operational by 2030. The Iberian pipeline will not only decrease the EU dependence on fossil fuels but will also drive the transition towards Green Energy. The pipeline, that will link Barcelona to Marseille, will export 2 million tons per year, that is 10% of EU consumption. Portugal’s Prime Minister António Costa stated that the new connections will allow Portugal to produce and export Green Hydrogen to Europe. The H2Med project is the first major Green Corridor that will link the Iberian peninsula to Marseille. As Marseille is the gateway to northern Italy and Germany, these countries are expected to become large consumers of Green Energy. Prime Minister António Costa explained that the project is an additional source of energy that will be produced on the Iberian Peninsula for export to European countries. He added that there are four electrical interconnections that are agreed upon, with two that are already operational and two that will soon be implemented. According to Portugal’s Prime Minister, the existing natural gas connections between Portugal and Spain will be complemented by a corridor that will be dedicated exclusively to Green Hydrogen. This new project is a paradigm shift as Portugal will no longer be simply an energy importer and exporter, for the country will consolidate its position by producing energy for exporting to Europe. The Iberian Peninsula is one of the best locations in Europe for the development of renewable energy, especially solar energy, that will be used for producing Green Hydrogen. Portuguese Prime Minister stated that this is the reason why energy prices are lower compared to other European countries, and this means that Green Hydrogen produced on the Iberian Peninsula will be sold at competitive prices. This new source of energy will not only meet the demands of consumers on the Iberian Peninsula but will be exported to the rest of Europe. The export capacity of the Iberian Peninsula to supply energy to European countries means that this is a project of common interest for the EU as it aims at decreasing its energy dependence on third parties. As such, EU funding could be obtained to cover half of the cost. While Spain and Portugal account for 40% of Europe’s LNG capacity, these two countries are now aiming at becoming leaders in the production of Green Hydrogen. An offshore Hydrogen pipeline is a one-of-its-kind project with innovation driving the EU’s energy transition. Source: https://www.portugalbusinessesnews.com/post/eur-25b-iberian-hydrogen-pipeline #iberianhydrogenpipeline #greenhydrogen #greenenergy #H2Medproject #BarMar #greencorridor #hydrogenportugal #portugalnews #portugalbusinessnews

Portugal Business News specializes in promoting Portuguese businesses and Made-in-Portugal products for export and investment.

The Game of Thrones super-brand links followers of all languages and cultures through a unique Brand Language that stands out from competition. When David J. Peterson created the Dothraki tongue for Game of Thrones, it inspired millions of fans worldwide who suddenly spoke a unique common language. Game of Thrones became a game-changer for successful marketing strategies, as it demonstrated how Brand Language could be used to communicate with fans over all platforms. It showed how a brand could come to life and inspire conversations in all the world’s languages. With the limitless possibilities of AI, constructed languages with unique brand identities can create Customer Experience strategies on a global scale. In this new AI era, brands can communicate their unique Brand Language to develop a common tongue, a language that comes to life and prospers, a tongue that becomes the driving force that underpins brand loyalty across cultures. Studies have shown that 68% of consumers worldwide will switch to a different brand that offers products and communication in their native language, which is why companies are turning to AI to speak a common language. The Game of Thrones super-brand has 33 million viewers per episode in more than 170 countries. A unique Brand Language was constructed to inspire fervent followers. Professional conlanger, David J. Peterson developed the Dothraki and High Valyrian languages that created a wave of super-fans and propelled the brand. It not only became the top TV show globally but became a cultural phenomenon. It became so famous and beloved that online language-learning platform Duolingo partnered with Peterson to teach High Valyrian. Successful branding tactics use language identity to build brand loyalty and brand superfans. This has inspired Portuguese LangOps AI platform Unbabel to partner with Zendesk’s messaging solution, in order to facilitate multi-lingual communication across websites and messaging channels, such as WhatsApp for business, as well as social media channels. AI is a powerful tool for Brand Language, where word choice and tone are the two fundamental components. Word choice is the unique vocabulary that is used, while tone refers to the brand’s culture and visual identity. This allows companies and products to be recognizable globally, to get the attention of consumers and to retain followers. Brand Language is part of a company’s intellectual property and competitive advantage as competing brands may not be allowed to use it. In his book Brand Sense, Martin Lindstrom explains how companies can own words by creating strong links between words and brands. He provides the example of the Disney super-brand that is linked to the words “magic” and “kingdom”. The Disney super-brand has the largest number of words linked to one specific brand. Brand Language recognition is a strategy that is also used for successful political campaigns. Success tactics to create brand superfans through language have been used in the past and have become timeless. This is the case for J.R.R. Tolkein, who developed new Elvish languages Quenya and Sindarin. Other examples include the 2 million Esperanto speakers worldwide that led to the constructed language to be recognized by UNESCO as an official language in 1954. The prequel to Game of Thrones, 'House of the Dragon', contains scenes filmed in Portugal, in identifiable locations in the village of Monsanto. The fortress-town, that is at an altitude of 600 metres, dates back to the time of the Knights Templar. The location has unique characteristics such as imposing castles, mysterious grottos and giant rock formations that have been linked to the Game of Thrones brand. Brands connect cultures and languages, from the Dothraki language to High Valyrian, these game-changers create a community of faithful followers. This has led brands to create innovative and disruptive ways of targeting audiences. We are now on the verge of a new era, where AI technology is used for disrupting traditional methods in different tech sectors, such as the digital, manufacturing, robotics, genomics, biotechnology and renewable energy sectors. The Game of Thrones super-brand is a Gamechanger for AI tech companies such as Portugal’s Unbabel that is trail-blazing the way towards technological disruption. As it is rightly said in the Sindarin tongue spoken by the Grey Elves of Telerin: “I ambar na-anew!”, that is “The world is anew!” Source: https://www.portugalbusinessesnews.com/post/gameofthrones-unbabel #GameofThronesbrand #DavidJPeterson #Dothraki #brandlanguage #AI #HighValyrian #Duolingo #Unbabel #Zendesk #Portugal #portugalnews #portugalbusinessnews #digitalnews

Portugal ranks High on the Climate Change Performance Index 2023. The country ranks higher in the 2023 index as it is now at the 14th place up from 16th the previous year. The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) monitors the Climate Mitigation Efforts of countries within the EU as well as 59 other countries. The key findings show that the current energy crisis demonstrates the dependency on fossil fuels and shows how a number of countries are using this crisis as a turning point to drive ambitious climate policies through energy efficiency and renewable energy. The top performers are Denmark and Sweden, followed by Chile, Morocco and India that are performing well. On the other hand, China, which is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases falls sharply in the 2023 index, dropping by 13 places to rank 51st. This ranking in the “very low” category joins the world’s largest emitter, the US, that is ranked 52nd. The CCPI index, that is published by Germanwatch, together with the New Climate Institute and the Climate ActionNetwork, is an independent monitoring tool for tracking climate mitigation efforts globally. The reports lead to national debates about climate change and allow countries to benchmark their own progress and to have a comparison with other countries. The performance is assessed for four categories, namely GHG Emissions, Renewable Energy, Energy Use and Climate Policy. The ranking, that is developed by around 450 climate and energy experts, is also used by the Financial Services sector to rate sovereign bonds. With Portugal’s policies for transitioning towards Green Energy being implemented, it is expected that the rising trend in the country’s performance will continue. Source: https://www.portugalbusinessesnews.com/post/portugal-climate-change-index-2023 #ClimateChangePerformanceIndex2023 #CCPIPortugal #Germanwatch #NewClimateInstitute #ClimateActionNetwork #greennewsportugal #portuganews #portugalbusinessnews

In the Expat City Ranking 2022 by InterNations, Lisbon now ranks 4th Best City for Expats. The Top 10 Best Cities for Expats are Valencia, Dubai, Mexico City, Lisbon, Madrid, Bangkok, Basel, Melbourne, Abu Dhabi and Singapore. In the Environment and Climate segment, Lisbon ranks 3rd after Lausanne and Basel, while in the Culture and Welcome segment, Lisbon ranks 2nd. Expats in Lisbon who have foreign-sourced income are among the happiest worldwide. It is among the best cities for quality of life, ease of settling in and personal finance, fields where only expats in Valencia are happier. Lisbon ranks 5th in the Quality-of-Life Index since 98% of expats are happy with the climate and weather compared to 62% globally. In fact, 17% of expats moved to the Portuguese capital for a better quality of life, versus 7% globally. 87% of expats also highly appreciate the culture & nightlife and 94% enjoy the opportunities for recreational sports. Another important factor for selecting Lisbon is the fact that nine out of ten expats feel safe there and they also find it easy to get around on foot or by bicycle. Lisbon also ranks 5th in the Ease of Settling-In Index, with particularly great results in the Local Friendliness segment where it ranks 4th and the Culture & Welcome segment where it ranks 2nd. A US expat describes what he loves about Lisbon with enthusiasm: “I love the hospitable, patient, and easy-going Portuguese people. They are helpful, kind, and polite.” Indeed, most expats describe the local residents as being generally friendly. Expats also find it easy to get used to the local culture and are happy with their social life. Another aspect that is taken into account before selecting a destination as an expat is Personal Finance, a segment where Lisbon ranks 5th due to the affordable cost of living. Since wages in Portugal are rather low compared to other Western countries, working locally is not what draws people to settle in Portugal. However, 72% of expats believe that their work-life balance is quite good. The Iberian Peninsula is well represented in the Top 10 Best Cities for Expats index. At the bottom of the ranking is Johannesburg that ranks 50th, Frankfurt that ranks 49th and Paris that ranks 48th and these cities are thus considered to be the worst destinations for expats in 2022. InterNations is an expat community of over 4.5 million members in 420 cities worldwide. The community is used as a source of information for people who live and work abroad and also provides opportunities for socializing. Lisbon’s high ranking shows that it is a great place to come and live and it is in line with the Portuguese Government’s policy to attract more expats as well as digital nomads to come and join this new vibrant community. Source: https://www.portugalbusinessesnews.com/post/lisbon-4th-best-city-for-expats #ExpatCityRanking2022 #InterNationsranking #Lisbonexpats #liveinlisbon #digitalnomadsportugal #portugalnews #portugalbusinessnews

Portugal is launching Start-Up Vouchers for new Green and Digital products under the Resilience and Recovery Plan of Next Generation EU. The vouchers will provide support amounting to EUR 30.000 for each start-up established in Portugal in the Green and Digital sectors. Portugal’s total allocation for the project amounts to EUR 90 million and the first tender for a total amount of EUR 45 million is now being launched. The deadline for the selection of the fist companies to benefit from the support is February 25, 2023. Following this first period, the selection of beneficiaries will be on a quarterly basis. Start-up Portugal is a non-profit organization with the mission of promoting entrepreneurship and innovation in Portugal. It is the link between the Government and the ecosystem of entrepreneurs, business incubators, investors and institutions. The new Green Digital Start-Up Vouchers issued by Start-Up Portugal follow its other initiatives that include the Start-up Visa, the Tech Visa, the One Stop Shop, the Start-up Hub as well as the Missions Abroad projects and the Go Global webinars. Start-Up Portugal is also the body that is responsible for the National Network of Incubators, the “Rede Nacional de Incubadoras” (RNI) that identifies, connects and supports incubators as well as accelerators for start-ups. Under these programmes, the Portuguese body has already certified over 150 incubators. The new Green Digital Start-Up Vouchers are for start-up projects that have Digital business models with a strong Green component in order to ensure sustainability. This may include Tech sectors and businesses that have a Research and Development component that will lead to the development of innovative goods and services. The eligibility criteria for obtaining Green Digital Vouchers include companies incorporated in Portugal that are less than ten years old and that are categorized as SMEs. Beneficiaries will be able to use the Vouchers to pay for human resources, for costs linked to accreditation and to Intellectual Property Rights, for the purchase or lease of equipment and for business process digitization. Start-ups that would like to benefit from Portugal’s new Green Digital Vouchers may apply online on the Balcão dos Fundos that is co-funded by the EU. Source: https://www.portugalbusinessesnews.com/post/portugal-green-digital-startup-vouchers #GreenDigitalStartupVouchers #ResilienceandRecoveryPlan #StartupPortugal #RedeNacionaldeIncubadoras #PortugalSMEs #portugalgreennews #portugaldigitalnews #portugalnews #portugalbusinessnews

Portugal’s Ivens Explorers Hotel just won the Best Visual Identity award by AHEAD Europe. The Lisbon hotel is the only one to obtain the prestigious award out of 220 pre-selected hotels in 23 countries. The jury was comprised of hoteliers, architects, interior designers and industry leaders. The Visual Identity award distinguishes components such as the name and visual aspects which create authenticity that is reminiscent of the country’s history. The Ivens Explorers Hotel recognizes Portuguese explorer Roberto Ivens who was born in 1850 and who chartered parts of Africa as a geographer and colonial administrator. The expeditions in 1877 and 1885 took place while Portugal had ongoing bilateral negotiations with Britain. In 1885, Roberto Ivens chartered the Contracosta coast between Angola and Mozambique as requested by King Luís I. During that time, the Berlin Conference introduced the principle of effective occupation, thus damaging Portuguese claims in Mozambique. Despite the outcome of the conference, Portuguese Foreign Minister Barros Gomes published the Pink Map, that represented a formal Portuguese claim to sovereignty over an area stretching from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. This led to a treaty with France and Germany in 1886 to take note of Portugal’s claim to an area between Angola and Mozambique. A species of African lizard, Lubuya Ivensii, was named in honor of Roberto Ivens and in 2019, TAP Air Portugal named an Airbus A321 after him. The Ivens Explorers Hotel, that is located where Rádio Renascença used to operate in Chiado and is steeped in history, is recognized by the AHEAD Hospitality Awards for the commercial viability of its visual identity. The hotel also ranks 6th in the Top 10 awards by Condé Nast Traveler in 2022. Source: https://www.portugalbusinessesnews.com/post/ivens-explorers-hotel #IvensExplorersHotel #AHEAD #RobertoIvens #portugaltourismnews #portugalnews #portugalbusinessnews

Central Portugal is nestled among green valleys sprinkled with traditional villages and mountain ranges where the secrets of the Dão wine region are yet to be discovered. The Dão is one of Portugal's oldest wine regions where the granite mountains and the temperate climate produce its traditional wine and inspire Central Portugal’s Michelin green star cuisine at Mesa de Lemos restaurant. The Central region is Portugal’s Green Heart where the Mondego and Dão rivers flow and the region gives its wine’s Designation of Origin (DOC). Dão wine is produced in a region that is sheltered by mountain ranges, where vineyards and pine forests surround the district of Viseu where Michelin’s Green Star is to be found. A Green Star is awarded when the culinary experience is matched by sustainable traditions, where the environment and local produce are equally important. Portugal is yet to be discovered for its eco-tourism and rustic interior. Portugal now has three Michelin Green Stars, that comprise Mesa de Lemos in Central Portugal that is close to Porto, Esporão in Évora that is south of Lisbon and il Gallo d’Oro on Madeira Island. Central Portugal is a region where historical villages are nestled and its main city Coimbra was once the political centre of the Kingdom of Portugal with its royal palace that is now a university. The Serra da Estrela mountain range is a Protected Designation of Origin for its cheese made from sheep’s milk. It is a region where a genuine and welcoming people and a glass of red wine matured in Portuguese oak contribute to the charms of a tranquil lifestyle. The Dão wine region is also where the Sogrape wine producer is innovating with modern flavours to produce the Offley Clink Portonic, a canned tonic port wine that just won the Innovation of the Year award. The Dão region is one of the top-performing wine regions of Portugal as wine exports registered a 22.5% growth compared to the previous year, to reach a total amount of EUR 16.1 million. Central Portugal, where traditions meet innovation, where gastronomy meets nature, is a region where Portugal’s Green Heart meets sustainability for future generations. Source: https://www.portugalbusinessesnews.com/post/central-portugal-heart #CentralPortugal #Dãowineregion #MesadeLemosrestaurant #Michelingreenstar #Sogrape #OffleyClinkPortonic #portugaltourism #portugalecotourism #portugalnews #portugalbusinessnews

A Portuguese study just published by IDC Portugal on the Future of Innovation in the IT Services sector describes the main trends and the Future Vision of Portugal in 2024. The IT sector contributes to Portugal’s economic growth and accounts for 0.8% of GDP, with revenue growth of 10%. The number of companies operating in the sector grew by 6% since the IT sector in Portugal has a solid ecosystem for startups as well as 6 global unicorns that have a total value of over EUR 33.9 billion. The number of unicorns per capita in Portugal is already higher than the global average. The six Portuguese unicorns in the IT sector are Farfetch, Talkdesk, Outsystems, Feedzai, Remote and Sword Health. SWORD Health is the new Portuguese unicorn and is valued at USD 2 billion. The company develops treatments for musculoskeletal disorders. FARFETCH is valued at EUR 12.770 M, Outsystems at EUR 8.370 M and Talkdesk at EUR 8.810 M. The Portuguese IT sector is mature, dynamic and resilient. It registered growth in all market segments and it is to be noted that there is an accelerated growth in the number of software companies. Portugal’s competitive advantage is the availability of local talent, while goods and services are produced at competitive prices. A number of multinational companies have selected Portugal as their IT hub due to the availability of a pool of qualified individuals. The dynamism of the Portuguese IT ecosystem is driven by the development of a number of innovative solutions for the global market. Portugal is ranked 7th out of 112 countries in the English Proficiency Index, 28th out of 134 countries in the Global Talent Competitiveness Index and 31st out of 132 countries in the Global Innovation Index. The software and services segment registered an average growth of around 15% while exports from this segment registered an average growth of 21% over the last five years. The main opportunities that are identified in the Portuguese IT sector are software applications, platforms, analytics, AI as well as cloud Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). Mature export markets include Western Europe and the US in the software segment. This segment is expected to register a higher growth for all regions compared to other IT segments. Concerning less mature export markets such as China and Latin America, it is expected that there will be a higher growth rate. For these markets, there are opportunities for innovative technologies. In 2023, half of organizations will generate over 40% of income from digital goods and services. This is due to the fact that the pandemic has accelerated Portugal’s digital transformation. It is to be noted that decarbonization initiatives are part of the country’s digital transformation and that 90% of organizations intend to reduce carbon emissions by the end of 2023. Portugal’s ICT sector is comprised of 24,000 companies that employ over 147,000 people, thus accounting for 3.6% of jobs. It has registered revenues of over EUR 21.101 million, accounting for 5.4% of the total turnover of Portuguese companies. The main share comes from the IT services segment that includes software and telecommunications. Revenues from the services sector amount to EUR 13.396 M, out of which EUR 6.134 come from the telecommunications segment. In 2020, exports from the ICT sector were around 24% of total revenues, with the main services exported being the consulting and computer programming segments, while data processing services are also in demand. Exports of software and IT services register an average annual growth of 21%. The consulting and computer programming sector includes a number of innovative software companies and accounts for 30% of the total turnover. This segment registered an average annual growth of 12.3% during the period 2015-2020. Due to the pandemic, Portugal registered a decrease of 10% in revenues in 2020 compared to the previous year. However, revenues from the ICT sector grew by 4.6% during the same period. The forecasts for the Portuguese IT sector include accelerated investments in the field of digital transformation by 2025, with over 55% of total investments expected to be in the Information and Communication Technology sector. These figures show the resilience and dynamism of Portugal’s IT services sector, while the future vision shows its high growth potential by 2024. Source: https://www.portugalbusinessesnews.com/post/digital-portugal-outlook-2024 #IDCPortugal #PortugalITsector #digitalportugal #ITPortugaloutlook #Portugalunicorns #Farfetch #Talkdesk #Outsystems #Feedzai #Remote #SwordHealth #digitalnewsportugal #newsportugal #businessnewsportugal

Dark Sky Alqueva in Portugal just won the World’s Responsible Tourism Award 2022 at the World Travel Awards. Alqueva, in Portugal, was the first site in the world to be certified by the Starlight Foundation as a “Starlight Tourism Destination.” This new certification, awarded by the Starlight foundation is supported by UNESCO and by the UNWTO. Starlight Tourism Destinations are places which have very low light pollution where visitors can enjoy unique and unparalleled opportunities to view the night sky. In most of Europe fewer people are able to view the galaxy clearly because of increasing light pollution, however Alqueva in Portugal has excellent atmospheric conditions that make it possible for visitors to enjoy stargazing for most of the year. Alqueva is also a unique region that has a rich cultural and natural heritage, with its megalithic remains that provide a link with past civilizations who observed and reacted to celestial movements. It is in this region that a small, picturesque village hosts the Alqueva Dark Sky Route initiative, where tourists may enjoy activities such as bird watching, hiking, horse riding, canoeing, lake-side dining, and, especially, stargazing. The “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification covers the municipalities of Alandroal, Reguengos, Monsaraz, Mourão, Barrancos, Portel and Moura, along 3.000 km2 surrounding the Great Lake Alqueva, the biggest artificial lake in Europe. It is a memorable place where stargazers may enjoy magical moments while the Dark Sky Route welcomes Astro-tourists for overnight stays. The Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve is managed by the Genuineland-Alentejo Network of Villages Tourism. The global “Starlight Tourism Destination” award obtained by Dark Sky Alqueva recognizes excellence in the field of Astro-tourism. In addition to the World Travel Award that is an industry hallmark, the prestigious World’s Responsible Tourism Award 2022 recognizes the innovative character of this Astro-tourism destination. Protecting the night sky is their mission and it comes with decreasing to almost zero the levels of light pollution. The International Starlight Conference of April 2007, promoted by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, establishes the principles contained in the "Declaration in Defense of the Night Sky and the Right to Starlight" and led to the creation of the Starlight Foundation that focuses on the protection of the night sky and Astro-tourism. To further this goal, the international Starlight Certification system was launched to protect the sky as a necessary resource for life and as an intangible heritage of humanity, guaranteeing the ability to enjoy star-gazing. Portugal’s “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification merges science and tourism for the enjoyment of future generations as well as all tourists who enjoy stargazing. The twinkling stars of the Alentejo region whisper in the night, drawing travelers to the secrets of its night sky and to the wonders of its constellations and planets. Source: https://www.portugalbusinessesnews.com/post/dark-sky-portugal #DarkSkyAlqueva #astrotourismportugal #StarlightTourismDestination #alquevaportugal #portugalnews #portugaltourismnews #portugalbusinessnews