STRATEGIC TOOLS FOR DECISION SUPPORT: THE REGIONAL TOURISM OBSERVATORY OF ALENTEJO

Abstract

In a background of increasing competition between tourism destinations, the issue of information takes on a more pressing nature.
The responsible bodies for destination management, either nationally or regionally, should equip themselves with tools to monitor tourism activity in their territories, and that provide timely and reliable information on their evolution, trends, dynamics and market position.
The Regional Tourism Observatory of Alentejo is a recently created instrument, to support the decision of the Regional Tourism Board of Alentejo and private entities in the region, as it defines itself as an instrument to detect market opportunities and anticipate the needs of entrepreneurship-related sector in the Alentejo.
In this article, we highlight the importance of public-private partnerships in developing tools for decision support on a regional basis, focusing on the Regional Tourism Observatory of Alentejo, presenting the studies that are being developed within its framework.