Barcelos, UNESCO Creative City: contribution for the sustainable development of Crafts through the Creative Tourism

Abstract

Barcelos is part of the UNESCO Creative Cities network in the category of Crafts and Popular Art since 2017, however, according to a study by Gonçalves and Costa (2020), this fact arouses the interest of only 5.1% of visitor's respondents, despite of being a territory of artisans and the birthplace of the "Rooster of Barcelos", one of the symbols of national tourism. The main objective of this study is to understand how Creative Tourism can support the vitality of Crafts, encourage a new generation of Artisans, and contribute to the sustainable development of a territory that is part of the UNESCO Creative Cities network. The data collection in the scope of this research was carried out through a "focus group" session (group interview), which is a qualitative technique of scientic investigation. It is concluded that the implementation of a Creative Experiences Tourism project emerges as a priority and an instrument for the sustainable development of this territory and of the Craftsmanship of Barcelos.