In the electoral act called specifically for the election of the president of that body, following the death of the previous incumbent, Raul Almeida, Rui Ventura obtained 86 votes, defeating Walter Chicharro (PS), deputy in the Assembly of the Republic and former president of the Nazaré Municipal Council, who obtained 60 votes (40.27%).

According to the TCP note, there were also three blank votes, with 149 members voting, representing 93.7% of the 159 members of the electoral college, made up of the 100 municipalities of the Central region and other public and private bodies in the tourism sector.

Addressing members after being elected, Rui Ventura praised the participation in the elections, noting that the two candidacies “maintained the level that this regional entity has always had, with a spirit of unity that it is recognised for”.

"It is my intention that we always work together, both as municipalities and private individuals, from whom I have learned a lot in recent weeks. I would like to thank my entire team and all those who welcomed me with open arms at Turismo Centro de Portugal. I was well received, I gathered ideas and the feelings of each of the sectors of this entity. I believe that this tourism region will have an even better future", added the new president of TCP.

The remaining governing bodies of the regional tourism entity, elected in July 2023, remain unchanged.

The inauguration will take place on 15 April, at 11:30, in Coimbra.