Last Friday, November 24th, the Lighting Living Lab made its presence at the VIII International Tourism Conference held at the Centro de Artes de Águeda. The event, filled with current topics and excellent speakers, took attendees on a journey through time and around the world, exploring the realms of gastronomy and the art of hospitality.
Originating from destinations as diverse as São Tomé and Príncipe, Cuba, and Cape Verde, alongside showcasing Portuguese best practices, the presentations illustrated how tourist destinations can truly stand out by involving local communities and products, ensuring an appealing experience for tourists.
The conference program was divided into several sessions, including the opening session, funding for innovation, exploring how to awaken the senses through unique experiences – featuring a workshop and showcooking of dishes signed by the illustrious João Carlos Silva from São Tomé and Príncipe – and finally, a panel dedicated to strategies for promoting unique experiences.
The speakers, representing various fields within tourism and gastronomy and warmly welcomed by the Águeda Municipal Council, included prominent figures such as Edson Santos, Vice-President of the Águeda Municipal Council; Raul Almeida, President of Turismo Centro de Portugal; Niurka Pérez, Tourism Counselor of the Embassy of Cuba for Portugal and Spain; Jorge Almeida, Mayor of Águeda; Miguel Mendes, representing Turismo de Portugal; Conceição Carvalho, from the Recovery and Resilience Plan; Luís Azeredo from Zomato; Sandra Simões from the Escola de Hotelaria e Turismo de Coimbra; Luís Lavrador from the Escola Superior de Educação de Coimbra; João Carlos Silva from São Tomé and Príncipe; João Amorim from Follow the Sun; Pedro Moreira from Pedro On the Road; Gonçalo Castel-Branco, associated with Chefs on Fire and The Presidential Train, and once again, Niurka Pérez.
The discussions were comprehensive, covering topics from food and gastronomy to their intersection with sustainability and local customs. It was an enriching experience in every sense, fostering profound reflections on the potential of the tourism sector, its connection with the gastronomic field, and the preservation of culture and the environment.