Vidigueira: Luís Amado- Mayor of the tour guide.

Aug 28, 2018

During 16 years was mayor. Four as executive secretary and 12 as Chairman of the Board of Vila de Frades Parish, county Vidigueira, having accumulated one of the mandates with the deputy function of the mayor.

Luís Amado, 48 year old

Profession: Travel agent

Resident: Vila de Frades (Vidigueira)

In 2012, was a leading figure when the government of the PSD, launched the law of administrative reorganization of local authorities proceeding to the merger of parishes.

Luís Amado defied the then Secretary of State, Paul Julius and told him: "If the law of 3 kilometers for the merger is approved, change the seat of the joint to the Ruins of St. Cucufate, that 4 kilometers, contour and to avoid melting ". This position was fraturante and the government stepped back and took the law paragraph of "kilometers from the merger".

In 2015 and with the end of "political life", Luís Amado turned to a project that was conceived and matured during 10 amos, create a tourist company. The following year the company is born "Alentejo Tourism Windows". An investment at zero cost, and without the use of Community funds, since all the goods, They were Luis and Alexandra woman, that in addition to dealing with all the logistics, are also tour guides.

The unique features of the project, They start right at the company headquarters. It is an old winery, with traditional carvings Friars village of wineries, that was recovered and where visitors take the first contact with the region.

The initial idea was to "sell the tourism product" of the municipalities of Vidigueira, Cuba and Portel, but, fame quickly spilled over borders and has been extended throughout the country and the Spanish Extremadura.

One of the most popular programs is the Vidigueira-Rota bread Wine and Gastronomy, which includes visits to museums, wineries, lunch and guides, and costs 30 EUR per person / day, for groups of 20 and 50 people.

"At the end of the day there is a visit to traditional stores, for visitors to purchase local products, as bread, filled, wine and honey. There are medium-sized acquisitions by group, in the order of 500 euros. Excellent returns ", justifies Luís Amado.

The idea is to "take advantage of the specificities of each region. Portel, by Lake Alqueva, Olivenza, the Portuguese history ", He gave as examples the guide, going further in their dreams: "The future focus is to have a route for each of the fourteen municipalities of Baixo Alentejo", Luís Amado shoots.

Since the beginning of the project, the "Alentejo windows" are wide open to partnerships, in particular with private visits to wineries, as for the Regional Tourism Entity (ERT). "We are in tune. The ERT in the dissemination of routes and we in welcoming visitors ", happy delivers the former mayor.

Teixeira Correia

(journalist)