On September 24, 2005, an Article was published in the "Correio da Manhã", a popular Portuguese newspaper, about a Gay Cruise that is going to take place up the Douro River.
In this first post one will find the original article written in Portuguese. In the post below one will find its quick English translation done on the Internet using the Babel Fish site.
URL: http://www.correiomanha.pt/noticia.asp? ... idCanal=10
Portugal
2005-09-24 - 00:00:00
Cruzeiro: americanos idosos fascinados por vinho e paisagem nortenha
Gays à descoberta do Douro
A 3 de Outubro dezenas de homossexuais norte-americanos, na sua maioria idosos, vão embarcar, no Porto, no barco-hotel Infante D. Henrique, naquele que será o primeiro cruzeiro gay realizado no Rio Douro. São dez dias em que turistas abastados – o preço de cada viagem é 1554 euros – vão subir o rio de barco e visitar de autocarro as cidades de Braga, Porto, Vila Real e Lamego.
Dos socalcos vinhateiros há ainda uma extensão até à cidade espanhola de Salamanca.
"A viagem é organizada por uma agência de turismo norte-americana e, segundo sabemos, conta já com grande adesão de turistas", disse ao CM Luís Rodrigues, membro do comité organizador do simpósio de três dias sobre turismo gay e lésbico, que hoje termina em Lisboa.
Luís Rodrigues conta que no ano passado houve uma viagem semelhante, no Douro, em que estiveram presentes turistas heterossexuais e homossexuais norte-americanos. "Os gays gostaram tanto da região do Douro que este ano a agência norte-americana decidiu realizar um cruzeiro exclusivamente homossexual."
Perante um tipo de turismo sofisticado, exigente e disposto a pagar bem para ver as belezas naturais oferecidas pelo vale onde se produz o vinho do Porto, o barco Infante D. Henrique, construído no ano passado, apresenta condições de luxo, de hotel de cinco estrelas flutuante.
Luís Rodrigues sublinha que "há cada vez mais interesse do turismo homossexual em conhecer Portugal". O responsável da feira de turismo gay adianta ainda que, além do Douro, a Madeira é outro ponto de interesse do turismo gay de cruzeiros (ver caixa 'Funchal não escapa à onda').
DIVISAS COR-DE-ROSA
Com o objectivo de captar novos turistas no segmento gay e lésbico, cerca de 15 empresas participam no simpósio de apresentação das potencialidades nacionais junto de 60 agentes de viagens norte-americanos e da Europa, que se deslocaram a Lisboa a convite da IGLTA (Associação Internacional de Viagens Gay e Lésbicas) e da Associação de Turismo de Lisboa.
É estimado em cem mil o número de gays e lésbicas que anualmente visitam a capital.
NÃO AOS COCHICHOS
O encontro que ontem decorreu no Hotel Fénix contou com grande adesão dos agentes turísticos de Lisboa, segundo Luís Rodrigues. "Os hotéis da capital revelaram grande interesse por este segmento do mercado, que já representa cerca de dez por cento do turismo mundial."
António Serzedelo, presidente da associação Opus Gay, destacou que apesar de os portugueses acolherem com simpatia os gays e lésbicas, há ainda muito a fazer, nomeadamente ao nível do pessoal de hotéis. "Muitas vezes quando é pedido um quarto com cama de casal começam a cochichar."
O dirigente da associação dos direitos dos homossexuais disse que de Norte a Sul, Açores e Madeira, há interesse em cativar este nicho de mercado, pelo que "centenas de hotéis e estalagens dirigem à Opus Gay publicidade sobre pacotes de vários dias a preços especiais".
Cultura, gastronomia, sol e praias são para o brasileiro Claudis Casimiro (director da IGLTA, entre 1998 e 2002) os aspectos de Portugal mais apreciados pelos gays. Claudis Casimiro lembra que só no Brasil há três milhões de homossexuais com poder de compra para fazerem turismo em Portugal.
FUNCHAL NÃO ESCAPA À ONDA
A Europa prepara-se para aderir aos cruzeiros gay do estilo norte-americano. A partir de Dezembro, a empresa Romeo-N-Romeo efectuará cruzeiros de dez dias nas Canárias, sendo que ao quinto dia é o momento do barco exclusivo para homens acostar no Funchal. O primeiro cruzeiro arranca a 24 de Dezembro e chega à Madeira a 28.
Os preços de viagem variam entre os 1189 e os 2499 euros por pessoa. Luís Rodrigues, da Saga Travel, única agência portuguesa para gays e lésbicas e que comercializa estes cruzeiros, diz ao CM que nos Estados Unidos este tipo de viagens existem já há alguns anos. "As viagens ao estilo norte-americano são marcadas pela diversão, existindo todas as noites festas a bordo, junto à piscina ou na discoteca sobre os mais variados temas. No caso dos cruzeiros das Canárias, o estilo será mais europeu, ou seja, mais curto e barato." Luís Rodrigues realça que há uma grande expectativa dos operadores europeus para saber como será a adesão a este tipo de viagem, onde participam gays sobretudo com idades entre os 35 e 40 anos. A escolha da Madeira e Canárias deve-se ao Inverno ser mais suave nestes arquipélagos.
INÉDITO
Será num barco idêntico ao da esquerda que pela primeira vez se organiza um cruzeiro gay no Douro. Segundo Ricardo Rodrigues, da agência Saga Travel, cada casal homossexual passa três a quatro noites em Lisboa, gasta 240 euros de diária no hotel e 200 em refeições e recordações da cidade. Este segmento de turistas cresce 20 por cento ao ano.
João Saramago
» Artigos Relacionados
24-09-2005 - 00:00:00 Economia
Economia
Turismo gay é positivo para Portugal?
SIM
Num País habituado a turistas mal lavados com a tenda às costas, é bom saber que chegaram os que têm dinheiro. Além disso, os gays podem ser o sinal de abertura para um mercado que nem sabe onde é Portugal – os Estados Unidos. O resto é ironia: se o Governo com pose de macho tem resultados nulos, alguém se espanta que as notícias positivas venham com toque alternativo?
Nuno G. Pereira - Editor de Sociedade
NÃO
É difícil perceber o que pode ganhar um país conotado como destino gay. Tratando-se, tanto mais, de um Estado conservador e católico, onde as mudanças de mentalidades levam gerações. Os portugueses são tolerantes. Respeitam a orientação sexual de cada um. Mas ver o País ligado ao turismo gay é diferente. Vai chocar muitas pessoas. E o direito à indignação é tão legítimo como o direito à diferença.
Paulo João Santos - Grande Repórter
Gays to the discovery of the Douro [Correio da Manhã]
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Gays to the discovery of the Douro [Correio da Manhã]
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Quick English translation of the Article:
[Translation done by Babel Fish]
Portugal
2005-09-24 - 00:00:00
Cruise: senior Americans fascinated by wine and northern landscape
Gays to the discovery of the Douro
The 3 of October sets of ten of North American homosexuals, in its majority senior, they go to embark, in the Port, the boat-hotel Infant D. Enrique, in whom gay carried through in the River Douro will be the first cruise. They are ten days where supplied tourists - the price of each trip is 1554 euros - go to go up the boat river and to visit of bus the cities of Braga, Porto, Vila Real and Lamego.
Of the vinhateiros socalcos there's still has an extension until the Spanish city of Salamanca.
"The trip is organized by a North American travel agency and, as we know, it counts already on great adhesion of tourist", said to the CM Luis Rodrigues, member of comité organizador of the symposium of three days on tourism gay and lesbian, that today finishes in Lisbon.
Luis Rodrigues counts that in the last year he had a similar trip, in the Douro, where they had been gifts tourist North American heterosexuals and homosexuals. "gays had in such a way liked the Douro region that this year the North American agency decided to carry through an exclusively homosexual cruise."
Before a type of tourism sophisticated, demanding and made use to pay well to see the natural beauties offered by the valley where if it produces the wine of the Port, the boat Infant D. Enrique, constructed in the passed year, presents conditions of luxury, floating hotel of five stars.
Luis Rodrigues underlines that "he has each time more interest of the homosexual tourism in knowing Portugal". Responsible of the tourism fair gay still advances that, beyond the Douro, the Madeira is another point of interest of the tourism gay of cruises (to see box ' Funchal does not escape to the wave ').
ROSE VERGE
With the objectivo to catch new tourists in the segment gay and lesbian, about 15 companies participate in the symposium of presentation of the national potentialities next to 60 agents of North American trips and of the Europe, that if had dislocated the Lisbon the invitation of the IGLTA (International Association of Trips Gay and Lésbicas) and of the Association of Tourism of Lisbon.
It is esteem in the one hundred a thousand number of gays and lesbians who annually visit the capital [Lisbon].
NOT TO THE COCHICHOS
The meeting that yesterday elapsed in the Fénix Hotel counted on great adhesion of the senior tourist of Lisbon, according to Luis Rodrigues. "the hotels of the capital had disclosed great interest for this segment of the market, that already represents about ten percent of the world-wide tourism."
António Serzedelo, president of the association "Opus Gay", detached that although the Portuguese to receive with affection gays and lesbians, has still very to make, nominated to the level of the staff of hotels. "Many times when one room with one couple bed is requested, the whisper starts."
The controller of the association of the rights of the homosexuals said that of North the South, Açores and Madeira, have interest in captivating this niche of market, for that "hundreds of hotels and inns dirigem to Opus Gay advertising on packages of some days the prices special".
Culture, gastronomia, sun and beaches are for the Brazilian Claudis Casimiro (director of the IGLTA, between 1998 and 2002) the aspects of Portugal more appreciated by gays. Claudis Casimiro remembers that only in Brazil it has three million homosexuals with being able of purchase to make tourism in Portugal.
FUNCHAL DOES NOT ESCAPE TO THE WAVE
The Europe is prepared to adhere to the cruises gay of the North American style. From December, the Romeo-N-Romeo company will efectuará cruises of ten days in the Canaries, having been that to the fifth day it is the moment of the exclusive boat men to agree in the Funchal. The first cruise pulls out the 24 of December and arrives at the Wood the 28.
The trip prices vary between the 1189 and the 2499 euros for person. Luis Rodrigues, of the Travel Saga, only Portuguese agency for gays and lesbians and that he commercializes these cruises, says to the cm that in the United States this type of trips exists already has some years. "the trips to the North American style are marked by the diversion, having existed all the nights parties, on board together to the swimming pool or in the discoteca on the most varied subjects. In the case of the cruises of the Canaries, a style he will be more European, or either, shorter and cheap." Luis Rodrigues enhances that he has a great expectation of the European operators to know as will be the adhesion to this type of trip, where over all participate gays with ages between the 35 and 40 years. The choice of Madeira and the Canaries must it the Winter be softer in these archipelagoes.
UNKNOWN
It will be in an identical boat to the one of the left that organizes a cruise for the first time gay in the Douro. According to Ricardo Rodrigues, of the agency Travel Saga, each homosexual couple passes the three four nights in Lisbon, spends 240 euros of daily in the hotel and 200 in meals and memories of the city. This segment of 20 tourists grows percent to the year.
João Saramago
» Related Articles
24-09-2005 - 00:00:00 Economy
Economy
Is Gay Tourism good for Portugal?
YES
In an accustomed Country the tourist badly washed with the tent to the coasts, is good for knowing that the ones had arrived that have money. Moreover, gays can be the signal of opening for a market that nor it knows where it is Portugal - the United States. The remaining portion is irony: if the Government with male pose has resulted null, somebody is frightened that the positive notice come with alternative touch?
Nuno G. Pereira - Publisher of Society.
NO
It is difficult to perceive what it can gain a country conotado as destination gay. Treating itself, in such a way more, of a State conservative and catholic, where the changes of mentalities take generations. The Portuguese are tolerant. They respect the sexual orientation of each one. But to see the on Country to the tourism gay is different. It goes to shock many people. And the right to the indignation is so legitimate as the right to the difference.
Pablo João Santos - Great Reporter
[Translation done by Babel Fish]
Portugal
2005-09-24 - 00:00:00
Cruise: senior Americans fascinated by wine and northern landscape
Gays to the discovery of the Douro
The 3 of October sets of ten of North American homosexuals, in its majority senior, they go to embark, in the Port, the boat-hotel Infant D. Enrique, in whom gay carried through in the River Douro will be the first cruise. They are ten days where supplied tourists - the price of each trip is 1554 euros - go to go up the boat river and to visit of bus the cities of Braga, Porto, Vila Real and Lamego.
Of the vinhateiros socalcos there's still has an extension until the Spanish city of Salamanca.
"The trip is organized by a North American travel agency and, as we know, it counts already on great adhesion of tourist", said to the CM Luis Rodrigues, member of comité organizador of the symposium of three days on tourism gay and lesbian, that today finishes in Lisbon.
Luis Rodrigues counts that in the last year he had a similar trip, in the Douro, where they had been gifts tourist North American heterosexuals and homosexuals. "gays had in such a way liked the Douro region that this year the North American agency decided to carry through an exclusively homosexual cruise."
Before a type of tourism sophisticated, demanding and made use to pay well to see the natural beauties offered by the valley where if it produces the wine of the Port, the boat Infant D. Enrique, constructed in the passed year, presents conditions of luxury, floating hotel of five stars.
Luis Rodrigues underlines that "he has each time more interest of the homosexual tourism in knowing Portugal". Responsible of the tourism fair gay still advances that, beyond the Douro, the Madeira is another point of interest of the tourism gay of cruises (to see box ' Funchal does not escape to the wave ').
ROSE VERGE
With the objectivo to catch new tourists in the segment gay and lesbian, about 15 companies participate in the symposium of presentation of the national potentialities next to 60 agents of North American trips and of the Europe, that if had dislocated the Lisbon the invitation of the IGLTA (International Association of Trips Gay and Lésbicas) and of the Association of Tourism of Lisbon.
It is esteem in the one hundred a thousand number of gays and lesbians who annually visit the capital [Lisbon].
NOT TO THE COCHICHOS
The meeting that yesterday elapsed in the Fénix Hotel counted on great adhesion of the senior tourist of Lisbon, according to Luis Rodrigues. "the hotels of the capital had disclosed great interest for this segment of the market, that already represents about ten percent of the world-wide tourism."
António Serzedelo, president of the association "Opus Gay", detached that although the Portuguese to receive with affection gays and lesbians, has still very to make, nominated to the level of the staff of hotels. "Many times when one room with one couple bed is requested, the whisper starts."
The controller of the association of the rights of the homosexuals said that of North the South, Açores and Madeira, have interest in captivating this niche of market, for that "hundreds of hotels and inns dirigem to Opus Gay advertising on packages of some days the prices special".
Culture, gastronomia, sun and beaches are for the Brazilian Claudis Casimiro (director of the IGLTA, between 1998 and 2002) the aspects of Portugal more appreciated by gays. Claudis Casimiro remembers that only in Brazil it has three million homosexuals with being able of purchase to make tourism in Portugal.
FUNCHAL DOES NOT ESCAPE TO THE WAVE
The Europe is prepared to adhere to the cruises gay of the North American style. From December, the Romeo-N-Romeo company will efectuará cruises of ten days in the Canaries, having been that to the fifth day it is the moment of the exclusive boat men to agree in the Funchal. The first cruise pulls out the 24 of December and arrives at the Wood the 28.
The trip prices vary between the 1189 and the 2499 euros for person. Luis Rodrigues, of the Travel Saga, only Portuguese agency for gays and lesbians and that he commercializes these cruises, says to the cm that in the United States this type of trips exists already has some years. "the trips to the North American style are marked by the diversion, having existed all the nights parties, on board together to the swimming pool or in the discoteca on the most varied subjects. In the case of the cruises of the Canaries, a style he will be more European, or either, shorter and cheap." Luis Rodrigues enhances that he has a great expectation of the European operators to know as will be the adhesion to this type of trip, where over all participate gays with ages between the 35 and 40 years. The choice of Madeira and the Canaries must it the Winter be softer in these archipelagoes.
UNKNOWN
It will be in an identical boat to the one of the left that organizes a cruise for the first time gay in the Douro. According to Ricardo Rodrigues, of the agency Travel Saga, each homosexual couple passes the three four nights in Lisbon, spends 240 euros of daily in the hotel and 200 in meals and memories of the city. This segment of 20 tourists grows percent to the year.
João Saramago
» Related Articles
24-09-2005 - 00:00:00 Economy
Economy
Is Gay Tourism good for Portugal?
YES
In an accustomed Country the tourist badly washed with the tent to the coasts, is good for knowing that the ones had arrived that have money. Moreover, gays can be the signal of opening for a market that nor it knows where it is Portugal - the United States. The remaining portion is irony: if the Government with male pose has resulted null, somebody is frightened that the positive notice come with alternative touch?
Nuno G. Pereira - Publisher of Society.
NO
It is difficult to perceive what it can gain a country conotado as destination gay. Treating itself, in such a way more, of a State conservative and catholic, where the changes of mentalities take generations. The Portuguese are tolerant. They respect the sexual orientation of each one. But to see the on Country to the tourism gay is different. It goes to shock many people. And the right to the indignation is so legitimate as the right to the difference.
Pablo João Santos - Great Reporter
PORTugal, One Country, 800 Years of History, 11 Distinct Regions plus Azores and Madeira, and Thousands of Wines