Spain and Portugal to cooperate on new tourism promotion

Portugal and Spain soon may have a joint plan to promote Iberia as a tourist destination using digital media.

The Portuguese Economy Minister António Pires de Lima declared today that Portugal and Spain have to ‘seize the opportunities’ presented by new technologies but was rather light on anything more than a vague concept.

The Secretaries of State for Portuguese and Spanish Tourism said today they are finalising a joint plan of cooperation to gain competitiveness in this sector through digital media. They did not say when this would be ready or what is consisted of.

José Manuel Soria, the Spanish Minister of Tourism and the Portuguese Economy Minister António Pires de Lima, met in Madrid to produce a statement to the press containing baffling phrases such as ‘greater hyper-connectivity.’

Portugal and Spain are competitors in the tourism sector but now claim to share common ground that could attract tourists.

In two weeks time, according to Pires de Lima, there will be a meeting between representatives of Turespaña and Turismo de Portugal who will look at starting on a digital promotion plan, soon-ish.

Pires de Lima stressed that Portugal and Spain "must seize the opportunities" that new technologies offer to "grow in the mid-market."

There may be some mileage in the two countries working together but it is unlikely to be a smooth process as Portugal excels in non-cooperation, especially with the old enemy next door.

Statements to the press of such vacuous waffle do not bring hope that either secretary of state has a grasp of the subject or the will to do anything more than lunch.

Meanwhile, the world awaits the final digital plan from the two tourism authorities.

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