Portugality as Heritage and Touristic Resource in New Jersey (United States of America)

Introduction

In a globalized world, tourist fluxes have intensified considerably in recent decades. Urban ethnic tourism associated with the numerous diasporas scattered across the planet is a type of tourism in increasing expansion. This kind of tourism is easily observed in the different ethnic neighborhoods around the world's large cosmopolitan cities. Portugality projects Portuguese culture and identity outside Portugal by means of television broadcast and by the internet. However, portugality greatest ambassadors are fundamentally the Portuguese and their descendants who comprise the countless communities dispersed in the host countries. In this chapter, we can understand how this important diaspora with its own lifestyle, identity and culture, which was established over a century ago in the New Jersey region, knew how to build a sui generis cultural heritage in the local landscape. This heritage, if well used and disseminated, may contribute to the development of tourist products for the growing flows of travelers from Portugal and Europe as well as for the North American community and other Portuguese communities living in North America and that visit the nearby New York City.