Abstract:

Tourism has played a crucial role in different economies around the world for several years and Portugal is no exception. However, with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impacts of mass tourism, the sector has undergone several important transformations. This study addresses the impact of sustainable tourism in Porto and North of Portugal region, with a focus on its post-COVID evolution and implications. The methodology adopted is a narrative literature review, which allows a comprehensive analysis of relevant information sources. Sustainable tourism has emerged as a critical issue in the post-COVID era, with the need to reconcile economic development through environmental protection and the well-being of local communities. This study seeks to investigate the trends, challenges and opportunities related to sustainable tourism in the region, aiming to provide important insights for managers, professionals from this industry and researchers interested in promoting a more responsible and beneficial tourism for the region. The results of this research suggest that strategies towards sustainability have led to very positive effects, namely in the reduction of seasonality rates and the change from a more massified tourism, on the coast, to a more inland tourism in rural areas.