Castelo Branco to host forum on inland nautical tourism

The Fórum Náutica do Centro de Portugal 2026 will be held on September 17 and 18 at the Centro de Cultura Contemporânea de Castelo Branco. The event focuses on the theme “Tourism, Sustainability, and Nautical Activities,” aiming to discuss how rivers and reservoirs in inland regions can drive economic and tourism development by applying Blue Economy principles to non-coastal areas.

Promoted by the Castelo Branco City Council and the EEC PROVERE Náutica do Centro de Portugal consortium, the forum will address nautical tourism financing. While private investment funds are expected, local municipalities are advocating for direct public support for essential infrastructure, including docks, sanitation networks, signage, and safety plans for waterways.

The Central region currently hosts 19 of Portugal’s 51 certified Nautical Stations. Organizers aim to use freshwater tourism to reduce seasonal fluctuations in tourism activity and encourage population retention in the interior. Castelo Branco Mayor Leopoldo Rodrigues emphasized a strategy focused on environmentally conscious visitors, explicitly rejecting mass tourism models near protected areas.