2023
Collaborates with Epopeia Brands in the programming and production of the Algarve's first International Creative Tourism Festival, the "Handsome Festival"
Conceived and executed the "Aldeias do Lince" project for the Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas, I.P. as part of the Life Lynxconnect project, an initiative that consisted of the co-creation of artistic pieces with the villages of Giões, Furnazinhas and Pereiro, the production of an itinerary-guide and awareness-raising activities with the intention of bringing the Iberian lynx closer to the populations of the area where this endangered species has been reintroduced
At the request of the Cape Verde Ministry of Tourism, we helped to draw up technical regulations for the implementation of approved walking routes in Cape Verde
We organised the 10th edition of the Ameixial Walking Festival, in partnership with the QRER Cooperative and the Estela Project, an event that annually attracts hundreds of walkers to the village, generates thousands of euros in the local economy and promotes local resources
We have collaborated with various national organisations such as the ICNF, Turismo de Portugal and regional organisations such as the University of the Algarve, CCDR Algarve, Rota Vicentina and various municipalities in various events, including conferences, classes, lectures, worshops, field trips, among others
We collaborated with Turismo de Portugal in designing the Guide to Good Sustainability Practices for Tourist Animation.
2022
Promotes a programme of craft workshops at the Mértola Islamic Festival and the "Algarve Mais Sustentável" (More Sustainable Algarve)
Structuring and developing creative tourism experiences for the "Algarve Craft and Food" project, in partnership with QRER
Participates in and organises an exhibition on TASA at the Portuguese Embassy in Madrid in partnership with the Algarve Tourism Board and Tertúlia Algarvia
Receives, through the authors Graça Palma and Susana Calado Martins, the Manuel Gomes Guerreiro prize promoted by UALG
Collaborates with the Rota Vicentina association in structuring and organising two courses on Responsible Tourism, one aimed at local guides and the other at tourism technicians from public institutions
Is part of a consortium of companies to develop and implement a network of walking routes on the island of Fogo in Cape Verde.
2021
Carries out the study and produces the book "Red Book - Red List of the Algarve's Craft Activities (CCDR 2021)
Collaborates with the Esparto Course, where 8 new artisans are trained (Cooperativa QRER)
Supports the organisation of a new workshop on the use of river cane, this time on integrating this material into sustainable construction and combining it with the use of clay roofing.
2020
Starts providing services for CCDR Algarve, regarding the development of new handicraft products, within the Euroregion of Algarve, Alentejo and Andalusia.
2019
Starts international experience in São Nicolau, Cabo Verde, through the participation in the “Projecto Caminhar” and in the supporting of Ecotourism development on that island
It sells, for the first time, a hiking program in Cabo Verde, an activity that will continue in the coming years
Provides services to Almargem Association, related with “Revitalizar Monchique” project, with the purpose of strengthening the local network of walking routes and increasing the tourist attractiveness of that territory
keeps the collaboration with the Cooperative QRER for the organization of Walking Festival Ameixial and in the coordination of Algarve Walking Season project
Becames part of the social struecture of Algarve Tourism Association (ATA) and Rota Vicentina Association
Maintains the support for local social and environmental responsibility actions in the Algarve, namely through reforestation initiatives in the Algarve hills, protecting a colony of Little Tern in Ria Formosa and supporting the Almargem Association for the maintenance of Via Algarviana
Promotes a traditional craft program in the Mertola’s Islamic Festival and its relationship with artifacts, visual cultures and food customs of Islamic influence
Develops consultancy for the “Valorization of São Nicolau’s Handicraft” (Cabo Verde) according to the Training Program for Handicrafts Action, by the Program CVE / 081 - Employment and Employability of the Cooperation of Luxembourg with SN-Turismo and Ribeira Brava Municipal Councils and Tarrafal
Provides training course for hiking guides in São Nicolau (Cabo Verde), within the project “Training of Nature Tourism Guides” action under Program CVE / 081 - Employment and Employability of Luxembourg Cooperation with SN-Turismo and Ribeira Brava and Tarrafal Town Halls
Conceives and produces a thematic craft exhibition for Associação Almargem, according to the project "Educarte: Educar para o Território", with the title: "Via Algarviana - A compliment to nature - The traditional crafts".
2018
Executes the second phase of the project “The art of the tinsmith” which results in the installation of 3 new tinsmiths and the creation of a route around the tinsmith woekshop in the village of S. Bartolomeu de Messines. This project developed under the EDP Produção Traditions Program is supported locally by the Municipality of Silves and the Messines Parish Council and is recognized at national level by the program itself, as a success case
Develops consultancy for “Project TASA Alentejo” (promoter: Beja city council), in partnership with Associação Simbiose which results in the creation of new craft products with local artisans and community involvement (namely students from the Secondary School)
It promotes a vegetable weaving craft course named “Artisans of the 21st century” with 6 apprentices and launches a national prize for innovation in this art. Hire two artisans for the TASA team and launch new products
Obtains the status of UPA (Artisanal Production Unit) by IEFP / CEARTE
Collaborates with Mértola’s Municipality in a ecotourism local training program for touristic agents and also in the diagnosis of the GR15 (Rota do Guadiana) in terms of its operation and commercialization in the international market
Starts commercial collaborations with several international operators, namely “Barrio Life” and Nature Quest” (Netherlands), “Follow del Camino” (Ireland) or “Vagabond Tours” (Denmark)
Participates in a technical study visit to GR221- “Camins de Pedra”, in Palma de Mallorca, invited by IDAPA (Institute for the Development and Promotion of the Upper Pyrenees)
Celebrates professional partnership with the “Artes e Burros” tourism agency in Aljezur, for walking programs with donkeys on the Costa Vicentina
Integrates the international project “Triangle”, invited by the University of Algarve, regarding the sustainable tourism certification program for companies.
2017
Integrates the founding team of the Cooperativa QRER (Cooperative for the Development of Low Density Territories), based in Querença and currently promoting several initiatives in order to support the Algarve inner region
Renovates its headquarters in Loulé, increasing the office and store area and also creating a handicraft workshop for weaving and basketry crafts
Wins the National Prize "Mercurio - Non-Food Trade", from the Confederation of Commerce and Service of Portugal, for the TASA Project
Promotes the "Ancestral Techniques - crafts market" component and a workshops program in the “Festival do Contrabando de Alcoutim”
Through the QRER Cooperative, promotes another edition of the Walking Festival Ameixial.
2016
It was part of the organising team behind the “Mesa Ajudada – Makers’ Meal” Creative Residence, a contemporary art artistic intervention, which creates a dialogue between art, crafts, culture and territory, to reflect on man’s relationship with the land
It provided consulting services to Alcoutim Municipal Council, for classifying the municipality’s arts and crafts, suggesting ways in which to stimulate them. Creation of a range of craft products with the TASA brand
It took part in organising the “Designers de Loulé” creative residence, in which designers born in Loulé return with a new perspective of their origins, promoting interaction with craftsmen and the interchange between the worlds of tradition and of innovation for the creation of products that truly reflect Loulé
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Started collaborating with Silves municipal council. We have increased the artisan network and added three new products to the cultural repertoire of this municipality
We won a prize from EDP (one of the nine selected, from 105 applications), through the "Traditions" programme, to carry out a project with the intention of reactivating the art of the tinsmith in Silves.
2015
It bolstered its role in the area of nature tourism, through new business partnerships with several international tour operators (e.g. Wikinger Reisen, SNP Natuurreizen and Aarts Wandelreizen)
It developed the ‘Loulé Criativo’ project, providing technical support for stimulating the Loulé Creative Tourism Network and for creating a Space for Creativity, Crafts and Arts in the municipality of Loulé (until 2016)
It supported the creation of the company BEQ – Barra Energética de Querença [BEQ - Querença Energy Bar] and became one of the founders of QRER – Cooperativa para o Desenvolvimentos dos Territórios de Baixa Densidade [QRER – Cooperative for the Development of Low Density Territories]
We are part of NATURAL. PT, a Portuguese brand that aims to enhance and promote, in an integrated way, products and services associated with the uniqueness and environmental and cultural value of protected areas.
2014
With financing from the CCDR Algarve it produced 15 new products for the TASA brand, strengthening the team and its role in regional and supra-regional work within the scope of promoting traditional arts
It produced a regional study on nature tourism for the Algarve Tourist Board, as part of the regional strategic tourism plan
It organised the international event for ‘Project Wealth’ (“Wealth Algarve Convention”), for the University of the Algarve / CRIA
It promotes the 2nd phase of the Porjecto Querença, in partnership with
Loulé City Council, the Union of Parishes of Querença, Tôr and
Benafim, and the University of the Algarve, where several
business initiatives and a sports organization were formed.
2013
Together with Loulé Municipal Council it organised the “Ameixial Walking Festival”, the first event of its kind in the Algarve and in Portugal, which has been held annually ever since
It began managing ‘Projecto TASA (Técnicas Ancestrais Soluções Actuais)’ [TASA Project – Ancestral Techniques Current Solutions], an initiative of the CCDR Algarve, [the Algarve Regional Coordination and Development Commission], with the main aim of promoting the region’s arts and crafts
It organised a creative residence in Loulé, focusing on the arts and crafts of the Algarve, and the “Ligações” exhibition, with the support of Loulé Municipal Council
It made a study into the potential of ecotourism for the Sado Estuary and created the tourist experiences catalogue for “Troiaresort”.
2011 & 2012
It developed and coordinated the ‘Projecto Querença’, in partnership with the Manuel Viegas Guerreiro Foundation, the University of the Algarve and Loulé Municipal Council. This non profit initiative, developed over two phases (2011 – 2012 and 2014 – 2015), strives to draw young people, entrepreneurs and sustainable ideas to the inland areas of Loulé municipality, with the aim of boosting this region, while alleviating the problems caused by its depopulation
It collaborated in various ecotourism studies and projects, in particular with the Associação Almargem, within the scope of the Via Algarviana (content production for the bird watching component), with the Associação Casas Brancas, on the ‘Rota Vicentina’ project, in defining itineraries
It collaborated with the Algarve Tourist Board in the publication of a bird watching in the Algarve tourist guide
Definition and implementation of walking trails in the parish of Ameixial. (Contractor: Loulé Municipal Council)
It helped organise and hold the 2nd Sagres Bird Watching Festival, in collaboration with the Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves (SPEA) [Portuguese Society for Studying Birds] and the Almargem association.
2010
Proactivetur officially came into being in August of 2010.