The Ireland Portugal Business Network is delighted to introduce our first panel discussion at our upcoming Tourism Conference in Porto on November 14! This panel will delve into the opportunities and challenges related to exploring and developing tourism in Portugal's interior regions with similarities between Ireland and Porto and the North of Portugal with special guests Francisco Calheiros and Miriam Kennedy, and moderated by John Paul Prior.

Francisco de Calheiros is The President of Associação dos Amigos do Caminho Português de Santiago, an association for the promotion and protection of the Portuguese Way to Santiago de Compostela, that was founded in 1998. He is also head of the ancient Calheiros Family and is responsible for the preservation of their historical House – the Manor Paço de Calheiros. Over the past thirty years, he has devoted himself to the exhaustive work of rehabilitating the old property to protect the family’s patrimonial and intangible heritage, by recovering and adjusting the Manor to Tourism and reinstating the most traditional agricultural productions associated with it.

Francisco promoted the creation and became Director of the International Festival of Gardens of Ponte de Lima, inspired by the International Festival of Gardens of Chaumont-sur-Loire, and is currently serving as President of the Golf Club of Ponte de Lima, of the ADRIL-Association for Integrated Rural Development of Vale do Lima (responsible for the LEADER program), of TURIHAB – Housing Tourism, and of the Association of Friends of the Portuguese Way of Saint Jacques de Compostela. Finally, Francisco de Calheiros has been an International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism since 2016.

Joining in on the panel will be Miriam Kennedy, Head of Wild Atlantic Way at Fáilte Ireland, Ireland’s National Tourism Development Authority. Stepping into this role in 2018, Miriam brought over 15 years of experience in international business tourism and event management across both public and private sectors. Based in Galway, she leads the strategic development of the Wild Atlantic Way, collaborating closely with industry partners, stakeholders, and local communities to build destinations that are well-connected, sustainable, and resilient.

Miriam is passionate about showcasing the authentic culture and beauty of Ireland’s west coast to both domestic and international visitors. She firmly believes that the stunning scenery and the welcoming spirit along the Wild Atlantic Way are truly unique. Spanning the Atlantic coast from Donegal to West Cork, the Wild Atlantic Way is Ireland’s first dedicated touring route. It has gained significant recognition for its breathtaking landscapes, adventure opportunities, and friendly tourism operators, achieving substantial visibility in international markets.

John Paul Prior has been making waves at the IPBN ever since he decided to Manage Musicmaker Dublin remotely from Porto, Portugal. He is the co-founder and strategy director of the Dublin-based vertical farming Agri-tech startup called Farmony, a passionate presenter and speaker, and esteemed Chair of the IPBN Porto.

Don’t forget to register to join the conversation at the IPBN Tourism Conference! Registration and the full program can be found here.