The Portuguese language and the development of tourism in rural areas of the CPLP

Abstract

The purpose of this communication is to argue that the existence of a Portuguese-speaking cultural heritage can contribute to tourism development of rural areas of the Member States of the CPLP. This claim is based on the assumption that tourism activities can become an engine of economic activity, in general, helping to reduce the existing asymmetries of development, phenomenon that reaches Portugal and other Member States of the CPLP. The results of a study developed in Portugal reveal that the touristic commercialization of Portuguese-speaking cultural heritage cancontribute to the development of tourism in rural areas. Though, the relationship of Portuguese-speaking cultural heritage with the direct investment abroad and migration flows also enable to argue for its contribution to the development of tourism in theneediest areas of the CPLP.