A program of free training actions for professionals in the tourism and business sector, with the dual objective of relaunching Setúbal as a tourist destination of excellence and adding more quality to the territory, begins in March.
The initiative, presented on the morning of February 24, is part of the Tourism of Portugal program “Training + Próxima” and, in the city of Setúbal, is promoted within the scope of a partnership established between the City Council and the School of Hospitality and Tourism of Setúbal
The director of the Department of Communication, International Relations and Tourism of the municipality, Sérgio Mateus, representing the mayor, André Martins, says that the initiative starts at an opportune time to fulfill a dual function of local enhancement.
“The municipality considers that this is the crucial moment [more controlled period of the pandemic] to relaunch the Setúbal destination and, above all, to improve the local economic fabric in the tourism sector. It is an opportunity for agents in the sector to provide quality, short-term training.”
On the last two years, Sérgio Mateus points to Setúbal as an example of overcoming troubled times. “Despite these two very difficult years, Setúbal was not one of those who suffered the most from the pandemic. In fact, one of the indicators points to a 17 percent growth in overnight stays between 2020 and 2021 in units in the municipality.”
The municipal leader adds that the training, given in person at the School of Hospitality and Tourism of Setúbal and also online, in this case through the Digital Academy of Tourism of Portugal platform, is a response to the expectations of the sector.
The training courses, mainly centered on sustainability and digital action, are dynamized with the aim of “contribute to a more qualified tourism”, at the same time as “they seek to meet the training needs identified by agents in the tourism and business sector”.
The director of the School of Hospitality and Tourism of Setúbal, Helena Lucas, says that “Formação + Próxima” is a program that stands out for its dynamism by presenting a set of “actions that were specially prepared to meet identified needs” locally.
The training is, for the most part, of short duration, and takes place in person for companies and tourism professionals, and in an online format, for tourist agents and municipalities that have joined the program, specifically, in the case of the region, Setúbal, Sesimbra and Alcacer do Sal.
“In the municipality of Setúbal, we are ahead in terms of scheduling training actions”, underlines Helena Lucas, to reveal that the free training initiatives, with registrations by the Digital Academy of Tourism of Portugal, are initiated in March.
The person in charge of “Formação + Próxima” at the School of Hospitality and Tourism of Setúbal, Paulo Pires, explains that the program is “open to training needs” and is not limited to the tourist and business plan. “It is aimed at all areas that have contact with tourists.”
Creation of tourist routes, masterclasses on sustainable development objectives, inclusive service, emotional intelligence, bakery, alternative cuisine, sustainable gastronomy are some of the training actions already scheduled for the next month.
Other paid training courses are also planned, starting between March and April, such as wine tourism, and also in September, with a sommelier course. "As they are more executive training and longer duration, participation requires no payment”, indicates Paulo Pires.
In November last year, the municipality of Setúbal joined the Tourism of Portugal program “Formação + Próxima”, developed in the twelve hotel schools existing in Portugal, which is projected for a time horizon of three years and framed in the national plan “Reactivate the Tourism | Build the Future”.
Turismo de Portugal, in partnership with each municipality, prepares a diagnosis of the specific training needs of each territory, creates a training plan to respond to the needs of the tourist activity and defines a complementary plan for the valorization of the territory and the empowerment of municipalities and partner entities.
The “Formação + Próxima” program is conducted with the expectation of training 75 professionals in the tourism sector throughout the national territory, with actions ranging from 50 to 200 hours of decentralized training adapted to the needs of each territory.
Source: Setubal municipality website
