Lisbon Travel Market returns Feb 28-March 3
Lisbon’s annual travel show BTL, the biggest tourism fair in the country, will return to the capital’s main fairs and exhibition centre FIL at Parque das Nações between February 28 and March 3, 2024.
The announcement was made during the BTL Tourism Awards ceremony and the presentation of BTL 2024 – an event that brought together professionals, stakeholders and opinion makers in one of Portugal’s fastest growing and most important areas – Tourism, which represents around 12% of the country’s GDP.
Strengthening the representation of the different sectors in Portugal continues to be one of the main objectives of BTL which this year showcased a new segment — religious tourism as a result of a partnership with Ourém Municipal Council and Aciso with the aim of boosting religious offer both nationally and in terms of international projection.
The success of the Hosted Buyers programme was also one of the highlights of the event organised in partnership with Turismo de Portugal and TAP. This programme promotes B2B business and had 120 hosted buyers from 25 overseas markets and over 2,000 meetings booked with 235 companies.
The programme one again reinforced the quality and wide representation of the various segments of the tourism sector and opened the door to buyers to purchase Portugal as a destination.
Jorge Rocha de Matos, President of the AIP Foundation which organises BTL, highlighted the importance of BTL for the development of tourism. “We are very proud that we are fulfilling our mission and are part of this value chain that delivers such important economic results for Portugal.
“BTL 2024 will continue to be a reflection of your work and a platform to launch your business deals for sustained growth in the tourism sector.”
Pedro Braga, Deputy Director-General of FIL called BTL “the largest and best showcase for the diversity and quality of tourism offer”, and added that while the, “model would be retained for 2024, new opportunities, improvements, and new content” will be introduced.
BTL Award Winners 2023
BTL Personality Awards
João Fernandes – President of the Algarve Tourism Region board
Pedro Machado – President of the Centre Region of Portugal Tourism board
Silvia Mosqueira – TAP Air Portugal board member
Luís Araújo – President of Turismo de Portugal
Awards
National: Pestana Hotel Group
International Public: Rio de Janeiro
Innovation: CIM Coimbra
Honorary Mentions:
W2MSTP Portugal
Tunisia Tourism
Alagoas
CP – Comboios de Portugal
Camara Municipal de Anadia
Parque Biológico de Vinhais
Avis Budget Group
NEST