Forbes spotlights the Douro region as a must-go destination for 2021

It’s time to go beyond and above the pandemic blues and start thinking of must-go places for 2021 (that’s right!). Take cues from Forbes magazine and be marvelled with Douro and its vineyards.

The centennial American business magazine, globally known for its ranks, spotlights the Douro region and its vineyards among the eight not to miss destinations if one is a wine lover, according to Nicole Trilivas.

“Calling all oenophiles: now is the time to start planning your ultimate wine vacation for 2021”, Trilivas furthers, while spotlighting “one of the world’s oldest demarcated wine regions”, the “unforgettable Douro”. There is lot to hope for, from a Douro cruise to Porto wine tasting. Forbes contributor Nicole Trilivas also pinpoints must-visit destinations in France, Slovenia, Spain, United States, South Africa, Italy and Australia.

Porto is a member of the Great Wine Capitals Network, which was founded in 1999. This project promotes the best practice around travel and tourism, education and wine business.

Tourism has been one of the hardest hit sectors in society, economy wise and times ahead will require adjustments to new challenges to overcome difficulties. As such, Porto’s strategy will be prepared to tackle safety issues, sustainable practices, and the differentiation of the offer, as “the city of Porto has much more to offer than its historic centre”, Mayor Rui Moreira explained to Público newspaper recently.

Porto Tourism Association (ATP) and Tourism of Porto and Northern Portugal (TPNP) launched a joint campaign with the goal of promoting Porto, Douro, Minho and Trás-os-Montes, as memorable tourism destinations in the country, during the pandemic first months, and the campaign was targeted at national tourists. The second phase of this initiative is targeted at foreign tourists, to show the relevance of connecting to the Northern Region on a deeper level.

The motto is quite telling: “Lá em Cima” [“Up There”, free translation], both evoking the geographic location of the city of Porto and the Northern Region in the country’s landscape, and raising awareness on where to look for unique and genuine life experiences tourism wise, in Portugal and in Europe.

Already in 2019, Christopher Elliott, Forbes contributor for the Travel category, spotlighted Porto as a must-go destination for 2020, enhancing the city’s “great food, wine, the sights, perfect weather and reasonable costs!".