Portuguese National Tourist Office recruits high profile UK tourism director

Leanne Bell, 02 October 2008

Former Portuguese cabinet member Miguel Perestrello takes on UK-based post

The Portuguese National Tourist Office has recruited a former Portuguese cabinet member to the post of director of tourism in the UK.

Miguel Perestrello, a former cabinet member of the Portugese Secretary of State for Tourism, will be based in the organisation's London office, which falls under the guidance of Turismo de Portugal.

Perestrello will work with seven regional tourism promotion agencies responsible for promoting the Algarve, Lisbon, Madeira, Porto and the north of Portugal, Centro, the Alentejo and the Azores.

"UK tourists make up 30% of visitors to Portugal," said Perestrello. "There's a huge opportunity to boost the number of UK visitors to the country, especially in the low season."

Perestrello helped develop Portugal's National Strategic Plan for Tourism, which promoted sustainable tourism.