Alter do Chão, Portugal, July 8, 2025 (Lusa) - The equestrian sector had an economic impact of approximately €6.6 million in 2023 in the municipality of Alter do Chão, in the district of Portalegre, according to a study commissioned by the municipality, which officials revealed on Tuesday.
The organisers will officially present the study at the 2nd edition of the Horse Economic Forum, which will take place in Alter do Chão on Friday and Saturday, and Professor Álvaro Lopes Dias, from ISCTE - Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, developed it.
Speaking to the Lusa news agency, the professor highlighted the need for more recent data on the sector and added that this is a very promising area in that region of Alentejo.
“It is a very promising sector in Alter do Chão, which has been growing, and the direct, indirect and induced impact is around €6.6 million in the municipality annually,” he said.
Álvaro Lopes Dias reached this conclusion through a “very tortuous” path, given that “data is limited”, mainly in relation to the municipality and companies dedicated to horse production in the region.
“At the Bank of Portugal, for example, which has a lot of data on companies, only 180 companies nationwide register as equestrian producers; the remaining companies operate in different sectors, such as agricultural societies and hotel companies, which the equestrian production code does not currently cover, even though thousands of horse farms exist in the area,” he explained.
The professor also stated that he drew on studies conducted in other countries to determine the multiplier effects of equestrian activity on the economy, which informed these figures.
According to Álvaro Lopes Dias, around €4 million of the €6.6 million generated by the municipality come from indirect impact.
“I also studied the tourism figures in Alter do Chão. They are closely related to equestrian activity and have been very positive, as the number of guests in 2017 was 7,400, and in 2023 it increased to 18,800. This jump is very significant,” he revealed.
According to the professor, during the same period, the number of beds rose from 121 to 317: “This also has a huge impact on the local economy.”
“The municipality has a modest population, but recorded 32,000 overnight stays (with an average of around two nights) per year in 2023,” he added.
The ISCTE lecturer explained that he had to work “a lot by inference”, either through foreign studies or the national landscape.
Álvaro Lopes Dias also said that he arrived at these figures by trying to be “conservative” in his treatment of the numbers, since “the available data are limited and public entities present significant discrepancies” regarding the number of horses exported.
“It is a very specific sector because, while in other economic activities there is a relationship between the company and the customer, here there is a third party, which is the horse, and this greatly alters the models we have of consumer behaviour, tourist choice, among other factors,” he said.
The Horse Economic Forum is an international platform for reflection, cooperation, and investment in the equestrian sector. It will host plenary sessions at the Alter do Chão Cinema Theatre and an experiential component at the Alter do Chão Stud Farm and the Molecular Genetics Laboratory (INIAV).
The municipality promotes the event, which kicks off on Friday at 8:30 a.m., bringing together experts, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and academics to discuss trends, innovation, sustainability, and business opportunities.
The programme also includes technical visits, practical experiences at the Alter Stud Farm and INIAV, demonstrations of innovative horse management techniques and interactive leadership development sessions with horses.
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