{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,28]],"date-time":"2025-10-28T15:20:54Z","timestamp":1761664854374,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,30]],"date-time":"2025-07-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1753833600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Tourism and Hospitality"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Globalization and market saturation have led Portuguese textile companies to seek international markets not only for growth but also to contribute to their country\u2019s international image. This study aims to explore how the internationalization of the Portuguese textile sector into the Chinese market contributes to Portugal\u2019s destination image and identify the critical success factors in this process. The research follows an inductive, qualitative methodology based on semi-structured interviews with two groups of companies: those already operating in China (n = 5) and those preparing to enter the market (n = 5). The interviews were thematically analyzed to extract key patterns and insights. The findings reveal that successful companies operate in the luxury segment, rely on prior international experience, and often use local intermediaries. Firms planning to internationalize highlight quality differentiation, brand authenticity, and innovation as strategic advantages. These insights support the role of niche positioning and cultural adaptation in building both commercial success and a refined international image of Portugal. This study contributes to the literature by linking internationalization and destination branding through industry-specific case evidence and offers practical implications for managers targeting emerging markets like China.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/tourhosp6030146","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,30]],"date-time":"2025-07-30T10:55:37Z","timestamp":1753872937000},"page":"146","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["The Internationalization of the Portuguese Textile Sector into the Chinese Market: Contributions to Destination Image"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"6","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3290-8449","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Manuel Jos\u00e9 Serra da","family":"Fonseca","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Business School, Polytechnic University of Viana do Castelo (IPVC), 4900-347 Valen\u00e7a, Portugal"},{"name":"Applied Management Research Unit (UNIAG), 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8588-2422","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Bruno Barbosa","family":"Sousa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Applied Management Research Unit (UNIAG), 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal"},{"name":"School of Hospitality and Tourism, Polytechnic University of C\u00e1vado and Ave (IPCA), 4750-810 Barcelos, Portugal"},{"name":"CiTUR\u2014Centre for Tourism Research, Development and Innovation, Polytechnic of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Tatiana Machado","family":"Carvalho","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Business School, Polytechnic University of Viana do Castelo (IPVC), 4900-347 Valen\u00e7a, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1199-2220","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andreia","family":"Teixeira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,30]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"AICEP (2022, January 23). 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