Armando Rocha Marques passed away at the age of 97 on Saturday night in Póvoa de Varzim. Known as the "Mr. Tourism" of the city, he leaves a legacy deeply linked to tourism promotion, the preservation of Poveiro traditions, and the local associative movement. With his death, one of the last great references of a generation that helped build the tourist visibility of Póvoa de Varzim in the 20th century disappears.
Born on April 15, 1929, Armando Marques joined the Municipal Council staff in 1953 and took on the role of promoter and head of the Municipal Tourism Services between 1966 and 1987, a period during which he contributed to establishing the city as a reference in seaside, cultural, and ethnographic tourism. His work coincided with years of great tourism dynamism during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
In parallel with his career in the municipality, he was associated with the travel agency Rondatur, founded in 1963, and for more than half a century accompanied the Grupo Folclórico Poveiro, playing a decisive role in spreading Poveiro traditions, customs, and practices. He also developed intense activity in the media, collaborating with outlets such as Diário do Norte, Comércio do Porto, and Diário Popular, and wrote the book "Crónicas Poveiras: o passado no presente."
Recognition for his career came in 2016, when the Municipal Council awarded him the Medal of Poveiro Recognition, Silver Degree, and in 2018 he received the Coat of Arms of Póvoa de Varzim for services rendered to the community. Mayor Aires Pereira described him as "the personification of the global Poveiro."
