The Sabura Project

Authors

  • Marco Pais Neves dos Santos Universidade Aberta

Abstract

Sabura is a pioneering project in ethnic tourism in Portugal. It has been implemented in a neighborhood called Bairro do Alto da Cova da Moura (the Bairro ; or BACM) and celebrated its first decade of existence (2004/2014) last year. This paper is the first public presentation of the outcomes of this project. First, we make an introduction, followed by a description of BACM's historical and geographical context, a brief history of the Associaçao Cultural Moinho da Juventude (the ACMJ, a cultural association) and a description of Sabura's origin and development. Next, as a structural element of our work, we present and discuss the answers to a questionnaire completed by visitors during this decade. To conclude, we reflect on the relevance of this project within the broader process of social integration that is being carried out in BACM. Among the various conclusions we can draw from the findings, it should be stressed that"Sabura: Roteiro das Ilhas" (the Islands Roadmap) has boosted the economic activity in the Bairro, enhanced its self-sufficiency and promoted its cultural distinctiveness, which in turn fostered the self-esteem of its residents vis-vis the outside environment and worked as an element in the (re)construction of the Bairro's image, by opening it up to the outside world.

Keywords:

Cova da Moura, empowerment, ethnic tourism, Sabura Project, social capital, stigma

Author Biography

Marco Pais Neves dos Santos, Universidade Aberta

Portugal. Licenciado em História e Geografia e Planeamento Regional, Universidade Nova de Lisboa. Mestrado em Cidadania Ambiental e Participação, Universidade Aberta. Doutorando em Desenvolvimento Social e Sustentabilidade, Universidade Aberta. Direção de Qualificação e Licenciamento, Instituto dos Mercados Públicos, do Imobiliário e da Construção, I.P. (IMPIC, I.P.).