The international travel publisher of the Rough Guides series has promoted Portugal’s Alentejo region in its ‘Top 10 destinations to visit in 2015.’
The Portuguese region joins Kosovo, the UK’s Peak District, the Canary Islands, Karnataka, Northern Ireland, the Mekong Delta, Northwest China, Oaxaca and Queens.
According to the guide, "the Alentejo has put Portugal on the gastronomy map and helps change the international perception of Portuguese food, in addition to being a destination as ‘cheap as chips' and one that offers good quality and value for money."
The guide also advises tourists to get to know and appreciate the ‘rugged landscape that is a world away from the touristy Algarve’ in addition to ‘super-fresh seafood, sublime olives, meat, wine and cheese.’
The Alentejo region certainly is up and coming as during 2014 it was mentioned as one of the best destinations for a getaway by the British portal AOL Travel.
The National Geographic recommended the Alentejo as one of its 21 worldwide destinations that its readers really should visit, the Guardian newspaper recommended the Alentejo for summer breaks, and in a competition sponsored by USA Today, the Alentejo was elected the World's Best Wine Region to visit.
http://www.roughguides.com/destinations/europe/portugal/
Comments
As for Dilwyn's comment regarding Birding in the Alentejo and historical and/or painting or photography courses, please take a look at www.paradise-in-portugal.com and www.birding-in-portugal.com
We've been here for over 25 years doing exactly that, employing local people living and working in the area on an ecological and sustainable footing.
In reply to Ed, there's no point "waiting" for Beja airport. Let's just get up and DO IT! In any case, from where we're based Faro is just as close as Beja.
You're right, the suicide rate is one of the highest in the world - not helped by the AVERAGE age being 65 or the population density being under 20 per sq. km, (as opposed to the Portuguese average of 110 or the UK's 660). However, this suicide rate is spread evenly across age groups and sex and can be attributed to a loss of hope - and that is as much to do with Corruption and Bureaucracy as anything else, a recurrent theme throughout Portuguese Life, but one that is exasperated in an area with an ageing and declining population faced with crippling transport costs.
Totally missing is any comprehension by Portuguese tourism planners of any idea how to fill 18 hours of a tourists time when in their area. And being still essentially peasants - so with a hearty dislike of education and anything resembling culture.
So you will look in vain for a coordinated food, wine, history, culture, arts and crafts route. Coordinated as in someone checking the enterprise is open. That instruction is available. That, if you want, you can buy produce there and take away. Or have it safely shipped to your hotel.
No catering for micro-segments. What of bird watching, historical tours, painting, photography guided by a local expert ? ... and 90% of the restaurants serve exactly the same food. So no chance to try French, Italian or (whisper) Spanish.
All this was being provided by EU citizens illegally barred from trading in the Portuguese tourism sector!
Stealing ideas from the foreigner business plans just results in pale but expensive imitations by the Portuguese tourism provider.
The chicken and egg question of Beja airport needs resolving, but there are no votes in it -
See also:
http://www.algarvedailynews.com/news/2769-paris-to-beja-charter-flights-cancelled
http://www.algarvedailynews.com/news/2104-further-blow-to-beja-airport
http://www.algarvedailynews.com/news/2024-ana-sidelines-beja-airport
http://www.algarvedailynews.com/news/821-bela-airport-to-receive-tourist-boost
Ed.
Friends of ours there speak of the lunacy of waiting years for the 'game changer' Beja Airport.
That cost tens of millions to convert an existing airfield much of which, as always with EU funds in Portugal, going missing ... and changing nothing.
And, they gleefully tell me, the suicide rate is the highest in any region of Portugal which is therefore amongst the highest in the EU.
Certainly see it as you drive through it to get somewhere else.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beja_Airport