The Lisbon Tourism Exchange (BTL), the largest fair in the sector in Portugal, returns this week to the capital after two years of hiatus due to the coronavirus, with the presence of more than 60 international destinations and the goal of repeating the 70,000 visitors that he had in 2019.
Between March 16 and 20, the 33rd edition of the BTL will bring together 1,400 Portuguese and foreign exhibitors in four pavilions of the Lisbon International Fair, with the Dominican Republic as the invited international destination.
The region of Porto and the North of the country will be the outstanding national destination of this edition.
The fair, an initiative of the AIP Foundation (Portuguese Industrial Association), has the objective of “decisively contributing to the recovery of this important sector of the national economy”, according to the organizers.
The event will have two days limited only to professionals in the sector, on Wednesday and Thursday, and the rest of the days will also be open to the general public.
In the programming, with a wide range of conferences on the latest trends, the commitment to nature tourism and wine tourism stands out, two of the branches of the sector that are gaining more ground in Portugal.
This year there will be an area dedicated to the seven Portuguese geoparks and actions will be carried out to promote national biodiversity.
Knowledge about Portuguese wine tourism will also be “deepen” through the dissemination of regions, brands, castes, faces and projects, “elements that provide a unique capacity to attract more and better tourists,” says the organization.
The fair will have a space dedicated to companies operating in the innovation sector, the BTL LAB, with an area in charge of the Portuguese Tourism Innovation Center (NEST) and a stage dedicated exclusively to sustainability with more than 50 start-ups.
In collaboration with the government entity Turismo de Portugal and the airline TAP, an international buyers program has been organized, which already has a “strong adherence” of the main players in the sector.
The BTL was held for the last time in 2019, when it exceeded 70,000 visitors, of which almost half were professionals and 18% were attending the fair for the first time.
The 2020 and 2021 editions were postponed due to the pandemic. (I)
Source: Eluniverso
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
