Opening Pousada da Serra da Estrela in Covilhã: A two-way impact analysis - interacting with private agents

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA – School of Business and Economics

In an era where tourism represents almost 16% of Portugal’s GDP, tourism management becomes a very relevant thematic. Tourists are increasingly opting for more tailored experiences, and in order to satisfy these needs it must be required to know how to manage a destination. This work is based on research into networking between private agents related to tourism activities and its contribution to destination development, offering thereby a complementary literature review in social networks. The fieldwork is carried out in Cova da Beira sub region, more focused in Covilhã, the eastern gateway to the Serra da Estrela. A social network analysis is used to understand the positioning of the private agents of the area and respective relationships.