Integrate for Tourism programme promoted migrant employment in Portugal

The project’s main objectives were as follows: 

• To improve the living conditions of migrants and beneficiaries of international protection, preparing them for their integration into the tourism sector, and to position Portugal as an international benchmark in welcoming these groups;
• To develop personal, social and professional skills that will enable participants to work in tourism, hotel and catering companies;
• To develop a labour market integration programme with business associations, ensuring that trainees are integrated into the labour market through paid internships or first job contracts;
• To develop the social responsibility of tourism companies and the multiculturalism of their professionals, reinforcing the sector's contribution to build a fairer and more inclusive society;
• To strengthen the role of companies in the integration of migrants and beneficiaries of international protection. 

Who benefits

Beneficiaries of international protection and other migrants with residence in Portugal. 

How it works

The project prepared participants for employment in the hotel and catering sector through a combination of technical training and practical experience.  

Training began with a 360-hour (approximately 3-month) technical course delivered across a network of 12 hotel and tourism schools. Using a learning-by-doing approach, the course covered operational skills, socio-cultural knowledge, Portuguese language and culture, and context-specific soft skills. This was followed by a 160-hour (approximately 1-month) internship in a tourism or catering company or a hotel. 

The programme also included training for company tutors and mentors, ensuring they could effectively support participants’ professional development and integration during the internship phase.