João Cotrim Figueiredo has quit his job as head of Turismo de Portugal, citing 'personal reasons.' He was chosen for the post by the Secretary of State for Tourism in the previous Government, Adolfo Mesquita Nunes, in December, 2013, replacing Frederico Costa.
"My departure is a decision I have taken at a time when the country can be proud of the performance of tourism in Portugal,” said Figueiredo remarking on the success of the sector in recent years that he claims is due to the companies and public bodies involved.
Cotrim Figueiredo said in December last year, when asked about his future under a new government, “my mandate is five years. It is not a question that will arise." He lasted two years and three months.
The mission of Turismo de Portugal is to "qualify and develop the tourist infrastructure, develop human resources training, support investment in the sector, coordinate internal and external promotion of Portugal as a tourist destination and supervise betting and gaming."
Figueiredo has an economics degree from the London School of Economics and an MBA from the New University of Lisbon and had held several corporate and academic positions since 1979.
Within the Ministry of Economy, Turismo de Portugal is the "National Tourist Authority responsible for promotion, enhancement and sustainability of tourism, adding a single body all the institutional powers relating to boosting tourism, from supply to demand.”
The Secretary of State for Tourism, Ana Mandes Godinho thanked João Cotrim Figueiredo for the work he had developed.
Update:
Luís Araújo has been appointed as the new president of Turismo de Portugal on a stand-in basis.
The Pestana Group administrator will replace Figueiredo and Araújo’s temporary appointment will be announced next week.
Comments
Having routinely stolen business and marketing plans submitted for inspection by 'outsiders' these are then passed to an existing Portuguese player who puts together something vaguely similar. Only ever vaguely delivering as they and their staff have no direct experience of what they are supposed to be doing. Everyone learning by YouTube. Then the municipal or regional tourism fails the original applicant through endless delay or requests for more information or trivial alterations.
The famous Portuguese corruption at its finest!