The Regional Tourism Authority (ERT) of Alentejo and Ribatejo intends to create a network of literary hotels in the area and market the 16 literary tourism routes currently available in the region. At the opening ceremony of the LiterÁREA - Alentejo and Ribatejo Literary Tourism Festival, José Manuel Santos, the president of ERT, underlined the potential of these two initiatives.

In Vila Viçosa and Beja, there are already 12 hotels that have the theme of literature as an important aspect of their communication. According to the president, the ERT will assist these hotels in offering literary tourism as a “way of theming themselves and differentiating themselves from the competition” throughout the year of 2025. “We are going to create a network with a constant annual program, with links to gastronomy and the theme of wine”, he added.

José Santos further shared that “We are focused on having more and more culture in the value proposition of tourism in Alentejo and Ribatejo because we believe that this is a great potential both regions have”. This role of hotels as “promoters of local and cultural development is very interesting”, he explained, adding that the network’s goal is to include even more hotels.

In parallel, Turismo do Alentejo e Ribatejo will concentrate on organising the offer around the literary tourist routes established by local governments or associations in this region. The goal is to take the 16 literary tours that are already available "to the commercialisation level”. These itineraries will be accessible throughout the LITERÁRIA festival.

Some of these vehicle and pedestrian itineraries need reservations or planning, while others can be followed “in a ‘self-guided’ style, meaning that visitors can complete them on their own, without help. “There are already some travel agencies that are interested in selling these itineraries”, the president of ERT announced.