Local leaders, European officials, and maritime experts came together in Póvoa de Varzim for a high-level EPP Local Dialogue on Sustainable Blue Tourism, co-organised with the EPP Group in the European Committee of the Regions (EPP-CoR).
The event, hosted by Aires Pereira, Mayor of Póvoa de Varzim, highlighted the city's ambitious APROXIMAR Project, which aims to harness the sea as a strategic asset for sustainable development, innovation, and community resilience. The event served both as a forward-looking call for action.
“Together, we can continue to build a municipality that is an example of how to live with the sea – and not against it,” stated Aires Pereira. “We are committed to making Póvoa de Varzim a reference point for tourism, ecological awareness, social responsibility, and blue innovation.”
Supported by the EPP-CoR, the dialogue brought together voices from across Europe to exchange good practices and local experiences. The discussions focused on how to promote tourism that is both economically vibrant and environmentally responsible – turning strategies into concrete, lasting actions.
Noel Formosa, Mayor of San Lawrenz and Member of the CoR, emphasised that sustainability must grow from the lived experience of coastal communities, not be imposed top-down. “Our coastline and marine heritage are not only natural assets; they are shared responsibilities. The future of sustainable tourism is not only in strategies—it is in people, and places like San Lawrenz, Dwejra, and Póvoa de Varzim,” he noted, underlining the need to empower small communities and local actors to lead change. Providing ideas to support sustainable tourism growth, Formosa referred to investment in environmental awareness, promoting off-season tourism, digital management of visitors, empowering local governance and creating local-EU partnerships.
Jesús Gamallo Aller, Director General for External and EU Relations of Galicia, presented the Galician Blue Economy Strategy, highlighting tourism as a pillar for regional sustainability. “Galicia’s Blue Economy Strategy positions tourism as a key sector for building a sustainable and resilient future,” said Gamallo Aller. “But to achieve this, we must improve coastal infrastructure, strengthen community training, and implement long-term, integrated public policies. The challenge lies in transforming this strategy into sustained, concrete action.”
The event also featured contributions from Luís Pedro Martins, President of Turismo do Porto e Norte de Portugal, and João Moita da Silva, Navy Captain and academic partner in the new Specialisation Course in Maritime Studies, Strategy and Global Security – part of Póvoa’s trilateral model combining Academia, R&D, and Community.
The conference highlighted tangible initiatives such as:
- The establishment of a Maritime Literature Section with support from the Portuguese Navy Library;
- The launch of the Jornadas do Mar series fostering academic debate on maritime themes;
- Partnerships to support marine bio-resource research, such as the transformation of seaweed into products for the pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors;
- Investment in accessible, environmentally balanced beach infrastructure and the expansion of inclusive beach services.
The event reaffirmed the need for strong EU-local cooperation, civic engagement, and policy coherence to ensure that the blue economy and coastal tourism remain sustainable, inclusive, and resilient.