The Vila Pouca de Aguiar Municipal Council hosted a new meeting of the ULTREIA SUDOE project's Local Working Group. The gathering brought together producers and territorial entities focused on enhancing local resources and their connection to the Camino de Santiago. The work assessment included a technical visit from the Camino de Santiago Certification Commission and the reception of young European volunteers on Santiago Day.
A central theme of the meeting was the planning of training initiatives for local producers and agents. The aim is to improve skills for promoting and valuing products and resources associated with the territory and the Caminos de Santiago.
In partnership with the Douro-Lamego Hotel and Tourism School, the Municipality will offer an executive training course in Labeling and Packaging Marketing. This initiative seeks to assist producers in complying with regulations and enhancing the visual presentation and competitiveness of their products.
The Digital Marketing training will focus on developing practical skills in communication, promotion, and product valorization. Participants will gain tools to reach new audiences, strengthen their online presence, and create new business opportunities, thereby increasing the visibility of local products and resources.
The program also includes a five-hour practical course on Accessibility and Inclusion, emphasizing the adaptation of communication and physical spaces for pilgrims with specific needs. The goal is to equip agents to provide more inclusive hospitality, promoting accessible tourism along the Camino de Santiago.
During the meeting, progress was also presented on the photographic capture of producers and their products, a significant step for future promotion to tourists and pilgrims.
Future project steps involve activating the 'Parada' by operationalizing the physical space and continuing collaboration with local producers. These actions aim to strengthen the link between the territory's resources and the pilgrim flows on the Caminos de Santiago.
It is recalled that, under the same project, the Municipality has already installed passage counters using different technologies on the Interior Portuguese Way of Santiago, in the parishes of Sabroso de Aguiar and Soutelo de Aguiar. This pilot action tests innovative monitoring solutions for more efficient and sustainable itinerary management.
The collected data will help assess pilgrim, walker, and cyclist flows, support planning for the capacity of hostels and infrastructure, identify the need for new support points along the route, and provide useful information to the entities responsible for the Camino's management and safety.
The ULTREIA SUDOE project is funded by the Interreg Sudoe Programme through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and involves entities from Spain, France, and Portugal, including the Municipality of Vila Pouca de Aguiar and the Faculty of Science and Technology of NOVA University of Lisbon.
