Drawing upon the implementation of an incubator and multidisciplinary collaborative research initiative – the CREATOUR project – which aims to develop a network of creative tourism initiatives in four Portuguese regions (Norte, Centro, Alentejo and Algarve), the main purpose of this paper is to analyze the dynamics verified in the first stages of development of this network, settled with the implementation of 40 creative tourism pilot initiatives in in small cities and rural areas of Portugal. Specifically, this communication aims to present the monitoring results of the pre-implementation and after-implementation stages of these pilot projects, underlining the progress made in between this time frame. This paper follows and draws upon the results achieved in the analysis of the first 20 pilot-initiatives, which the same authors had opportunity to present at last RESER’s conference in Bilbao. Using a Stakeholder Analysis and, complementarily, a Social Networks Analysis we intend to: (i) represent the relationships between the 40 creative tourism pilot initiatives (intra and interregional) as well as its relationship with other actors in each region; (ii) analyze the expectations of the actors regarding the relationships that can be established in the future, in the sense of creating a Portuguese Creative Tourism Network; and (iii) present a typology of pilot project initiatives, in order to extract policy-making principles for action. The analysis is based on a strategic analysis of actors (drawing upon the information collected in 40 in-depth interviews which were realized to each of the promoters), which was then treated, compiled and analyzed. These results, complemented with other information collected in the scope of regional and national idea labs developed with these actors, are in addition subject of a structural analysis of social networks, which will deliver the mapping of the connections and relations (effective and potential) amongst all the (internal and external) actors referred. Results are expected at 3 different levels: (i) A representation of the relationship between the 40 creative tourism pilot projects involved in the project (both at intra and interregional level), as well as their relationship with other actors in each region; (ii) An analysis of players' expectations in what regards to relations that are being developed and that can be established in the future, to create a network of Creative Tourism; (iii) The development of a typology of pilot project initiatives, considering their diversity in terms of types of entities, dominant focus of intervention, and predominant local engagement types, to extract policy-making principles for action.

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