The investment forms part of a wider national initiative, with 37 tourism projects in inland Portugal receiving €25.8 million in funding, including €16.6 million in non-refundable grants.

In Vila Nova da Barquinha, the Paratrooper Interactive Centre (CITP) will be created in Tancos, on the EN3. The €620,000 project will repurpose the former paratrooper selection centre, with €416,500 funded through non-refundable support. The space will showcase the history of the Portuguese paratroopers, from their 1956 origins to their role in international missions.

“This has been a long-held dream of the paratroopers. The goal has always been to make this heritage accessible while safeguarding the unit’s security. This centre will pioneer military tourism in Portugal,” said Fernando Freire, mayor of Vila Nova da Barquinha. The project will also involve the municipality, the Army, and the Para Clube Nacional Os Boinas Verdes. Visitors will find seven themed exhibition rooms, immersive experiences linked to paratrooper training, and content developed with the Portuguese Paratroopers’ Union.

In Abrantes, the project “Three Thousand Years with Olive Oil” aims to develop olive oil tourism as a signature attraction. With a budget of €399,750, of which €236,775 is covered by grants, the initiative will establish a dedicated olive oil route, install new signage, create multilingual content, promote sustainable practices, and open an interpretation centre in the municipal market.

“This is about turning our centuries-old olive oil heritage into a driver of tourism and economic growth,” said Luís Dias, Abrantes’ tourism councillor.

At the signing ceremony in Coimbra, Turismo de Portugal president Carlos Abade highlighted the broader vision: “Each of these projects strengthens our capacity for a more resilient, sustainable and globally competitive tourism sector.”