ADXTUR – Schist Village Network Tourism Development Agency has initiated a process that seeks to reverse a vicious cycle of economic and social decline in this region, which is amongst those facing the greatest difficulties in Europe. In this sense, its role as an agent of experiment is linked to its core mission. Given the difficulties being faced, and the special characteristics of this territory, finding opportunities means exploring paths less travelled. With all this implies, this territory and the intervention of ADXTUR constitute a living laboratory that calls for continuous reflection on the strategies adopted and the processes underway, as well as on the results achieved. 

In addition to its commitment to social issues, ADXTUR's institutional capacity must be highlighted, consolidated in its close relations with all its agents and sustained by regional, national and international partnerships in the political, economic, scientific, technical and cultural fields.

Aldeias do Xisto have the following strategic objectives:

• Stimulate sustainable, inclusive and shared social and economic development.
• Promote a culture of innovation, experimentation and entrepreneurship centred on local resources.
• Encourage collaboration between the various economic and social development agents in the region.
• Stimulate innovation processes in products and services as a way of generating added value.
• Attract and mobilise investment to boost the economy and generate employment.
• Generate motivation and create conditions to attract and retain populations in the territory.
• Increase tourist attraction and maximise visit length.

Values

Aldeias do Xisto’s values are a direct result of its mission and its commitment to the development of the region.

• Social Responsibility – Defending people's relationship with places, community spirit and self-esteem.
• Eco-centricity – Focusing on the relationship with nature and the ecological balance of this unique cultural landscape.
• Global View – The perspective that villages are open to the world, but that it is also possible to give to the world from them. 
• Experimentation – Inviting new actors, thoughts and skills to interact with the communities and experiment with new ways of doing, living and being.
• Activism – Advocating for the promotion of the role of villages in the future of the country and society.
• Regional focus – Commitment to the Pinhal Interior territory and its geography.

Collective vision of the future

Pursuing its mission of generating attractiveness for their territory, Aldeias do Xisto have been promoting Portugal’s image externally through the marketing of goods and services produced in the interior of the country and the reinforcement of their eminently rural identity. With a coherent and consistent communication effort, ADXTUR has created a new, positive, forward-looking and innovative collective identity in the Villages. Starting from tourism as the main sector for the implementation of the Aldeias do Xisto joint vision, it is also important to act in related areas to support the supply of goods and services, of which the forest, local products, manufacturing industries, mobility and social action, amongst others, stand out

The Aldeias do Xisto are the main component in the territory’s attractiveness and of the supra-municipal concerted action to support and mobilise the Pinhal Interior’s indigenous potential and generate economic activity and employment from the tourism sector, promoting culture and local resources.

Moving in this direction requires concerted and persistent action in the following areas:

• Linking and transferring knowledge and technology.
• Locally-based investment and entrepreneurship.
• Spatial planning, environmental protection and destination management.
• Learning and social innovation.