José Manuel Santos, president of Turismo do Alentejo e Ribatejo, emphasised the importance of expanding professional training in the region's tourism sector to keep up with expected growth. He pointed out that Alentejo is currently the only region in Portugal with just one hotel school, urging the government to address this gap to ensure the workforce is prepared for future challenges in the industry.

José Santos proposed that the solution could be the establishment of new branches of the Portalegre Hotel and Tourism School, which is currently the only institution in the region offering specialised training, or the creation of a completely new school. "It is a fundamental challenge, and we need to start thinking about it so that, in five or six years, or ideally less, we have more training," he said, noting that the tourism sector in Alentejo is expanding, with increased investment and growing demand for skilled professionals.

The president manifested his opinion during the 2nd edition of the Alentejo Tourism Job Fair in Évora, organised by Bolsa de Empregabilidade and supported by various entities, including Turismo do Alentejo e Ribatejo. The fair saw participation from 65 tourism-related companies, offering over 600 job vacancies, and attracting a diverse crowd, including students, job seekers, and individuals looking to enter the tourism field.

Looking ahead, José Santos predicted the opening of "at least five new hotels" in the region this year, underscoring that “investment in tourism in Alentejo has not stopped and will continue”. However, he noted the challenge in meeting recruitment needs due to the ongoing shortage of skilled workers.

To address this, the president stressed the importance of enhancing training at “demanding qualification levels,” both for young people and immigrants. “Tourism in Alentejo has almost everything, from excellent infrastructure to some of Europe’s best hotels, but it needs the pillar of training, which is absolutely critical,” he explained.