2015 World Tourism Day

Happy World Tourism Day!

On this day, 27th September 2015, we celebrate another World Tourism Day. This year we highlight the theme ‘1 Billion Tourists, 1 Billion opportunities’ that leaves us thinking about the potential of tourism. Besides being a unique experience in the life of those who travel, tourism brings great advantages for everyone.

Like Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General shared about this topic, ‘tourism has become a powerful and transformative force that is making a genuine difference in the lives of millions of people’.

We interviewed Vitor and José Pais, Portugal Premium Tours founders, so they could share how Tourism has changed their lives. Check their answers here.

What attracted you in this industry and how has your journey been so far?

Vitor: It completely changed my professional life. I had traveled a lot before and had been to several places. Besides that I enjoy being in contact with people. It has been very rewarding.

José: Initially it was the possibility of entering a business that seem to be very attractive growing wise without having to export or move to another country. Portugal has an excellent product and besides the financial appeal, I was interested in the possibility of interacting with people during a great moment in their life.

The journey has been amazing. It turned out to be even better than I initially imagined. A small country less than 435 miles long and 186 miles width and almost 560 miles of shore that you can drive through in just a few hours, gathers great gastronomy, history and nature. It’s all I imagined and even more. Introducing people to this treasure of ours seemed attractive.

How did Tourism and Portugal Premium Tours changed your life?

Vitor: It has changed drastically. Besides being focused on the company’s growth, we’re even more dedicated to 100% client satisfaction. We want to be different; we want to offer a personalized service, focused on the client and his needs while avoiding touristic clichés. We’ve discovered places and monuments we didn’t know, we’ve bet on exclusivity and in our education. It has changed my life for the best.

José: The great thing about this industry and this company in particular is the fact that we interact with incredibly diverse clients everyday so it’s like we’ve travelled to several places in one day. It has been very gratifying to see our brand growing with credibility. At the same time we’re helping our country, not just by promoting it but by also helping to stir up the economy and having a good impact on our suppliers, partners and team. Doing all this while in Portugal is very rewarding.

How does traveling with Portugal Premium Tours impacts your clients’ lives?

Vitor: We’ve welcomed clients mostly from Brazil and the USA, two very distinct groups. Brazilian clients already have some knowledge about Portugal but they always end up surprised. USA clients are always astonished since some of them don’t know Portugal or even Europe. They’re amazed and very pleased with the diversity, the places of interest, the rich history, the cleanliness and safety of Portugal.

José: Many of our clients tell us that this trip is one of the best trips of their lives. Besides Portugal’s great product and being an amazing destination, that also comes from the high quality service we provide them. We want to have an impact in their life through our hospitality and our incredible people, great service, show them our country… It’s very rewarding to feel that we truly have an impact in their life by providing a great experience. Some of the clients had never traveled with private tours before and it’s a very interesting finding.

What are the advantages of traveling with Portugal Premium Tours? How do you contribute to promote the country’s highlights?

Vitor: The difference is mainly in the tailor made tours. We find out the clients’ interests and adapt the tours accordingly. We go for what our client loves. We give them the most information possible during the entire trip, whether that’s knowledge about the industry, gastronomy, info about the country and the places they’re visiting… We’re very flexible.

José: We’re able to provide an excellent product with a good price. It’s great value for money. We have the best vehicles in the market, we provide fantastic conditions, we’re flexible regarding the itineraries, and we’re relaxed and honest. We want the guide to be close to the clients and treat them like a friend, taking them to places that are outside of the usual touristic routes and only the locals know about. This set of a great product, a fantastic team and friendliness delivers a great image of the company and of Portugal. People leave us very satisfied. Many of them return in the following year and they generally recommend it to their friends.

Given your experience, what are the places you consider a must visit in Portugal?

Vitor: I would choose Évora. In this city you can visit monuments of Roman and Arabic origins and monuments relevant to Portugal’s history. It’s an amazing place to discover the wine, the gastronomy, the olive oil and the cork.

José: Portugal has something to offer regardless of your preferences. A client that loves nature has to go to Gerês, Serra da Estrela and Arrábida. Those who want to soak in the history must visit Sintra, Évora and lose themselves in the Templar’s history in Tomar. People that prefer sports can’t leave without admiring Nazaré’s waves.

Portugal is filled with points of interest… Depending on the visitors’ preferences. There is always the common traits of hospitality and high quality gastronomy and accommodation.

If you had to describe the experience you wish to provide to your clients in 3 words, what would they be? And why?

Vitor: Exclusivity, professionalism and safety. They’re the basis of our company’s values.

José: Hospitality, experience and knowledge. They’re part of our goals and they’re what we aim for so that the clients leaves us completely satisfied.

What do you see and dream for Portugal Premium Tours’ future?

Vitor: We would like the company to keep growing as it has been so far. We also wish to have a more significant presence abroad.

José: Follow our path growth wise. We’ve grown more than 100% yearly. But more importantly we want to balance that growth with our values of being close to our clients. The bigger the team the more challenging it is to make sure the client feels our values and principles. We want to keep growing while always maintaining our ground values of hospitality, quality and closeness.

What do wish regarding Tourism’s future for Portugal and the world?

Vitor: I would like to see tourism transform into an industry focused on quality over quantity. Those characteristics can sometimes be enemies.

José: I wish that our country gets increasingly more acknowledged for what it is: an excellent and safe destination with an inviting value for money offer. I also would like for all the market operators to legalize their activities and pay their taxes, since parallel economy doesn’t bring us development or quality. And also thinking globally, I would wish for other equally interesting destinations to have their safety issues resolved.