Turismo de Portugal and Tourism Regions across the country cancel participation in BTL

"The conditions are not met to maintain the participation in BTL 2020 on the scheduled date"

BTL in 2019 - file photo of the Sul Informação

Turismo de Portugal, the Regional Tourism Offices of the Azores and Madeira, the Regional Tourism Entities, namely those of the Algarve and Alentejo, as well as the Regional Tourism Promotion Agencies «understood that the conditions for participation were not met» in the Exchange Lisbon Tourism Office, which is scheduled for March 11th to 15th.

In a statement, those organizations said that they would exchange their physical presence in BTL for the use of “digital means to ensure planned initiatives” for that tourist event.

A total of 15 entities "understand that, in view of the latest recommendations of the Directorate-General for Health regarding the organization of major events and considering all the constraints, the conditions are not met to maintain their participation in BTL 2020 on the scheduled date for its realization, either through its own stand or through the various events initially programmed».

However, "aware of the importance" of the event and "considering the fact that this is the moment of meeting between many buyers and suppliers in the sector, many of them international", all these entities claim to be "doing their best efforts to maintain some of the planned actions in digital format, without prejudice to the possibility that the event may take place on another date if so decided”.

Thus, together with NEST – Tourism Innovation Centre, Turismo de Portugal will implement the “Hosted Buyers” program (a partnership between Turismo de Portugal, TAP and AIP that brings together around 200 international buyers with 300 national companies in bilateral meetings) in a digital platform that is being developed together with NEST partners.

In this way, adds Turismo de Portugal, "the conditions will be ensured for the realization of previously scheduled meetings of international buyers with a specific interest in Portugal as a destination." The communiqué stresses that "this same platform could also make it possible to carry out some of the meetings that could not take place due to the cancellation of ITB Berlin".

It will be «also on a virtual stage, on a specific platform and social networks, that some of the programmed contents will be presented» by that body, as well as by the Regional Secretariats and by the Regional Tourism Entities.

«On this same stage, the programming of BTL Labs will take place, which, with the curatorship of NEST, intends to promote new projects, helping to establish bridges between those who develop innovative products and services for tourism and between those who need them».

Thus, about 40 startups have online its services and products for the sector, in pitches recorded on video, and other content is also available on this page, such as the presentations scheduled for that space, thus seeking to fulfill the program of the BTL Labs.

Since the vast majority of companies and agents in the sector already have a strong digital presence, Turismo de Portugal considers that, «at a time of exceptional constraints, conditions will be created for the usual networking and resulting dynamization of the sector that BTL promotes not to be prejudiced, without prejudice to the possibility of the event being able to take place on another date if so decided».

Despite this situation, Turismo de Portugal recalls that, «according to the Directorate-General for Health, in Portugal there are no travel restrictions, nor on access to places of tourist interest, commerce or products, making it the best tourist destination in the world. it is ready and prepared to continue to offer everyone who visits us an unforgettable experience».

 

List of entities that cancel their physical presence at BTL:

– Turismo de Portugal IP,
– the Regional Secretariat for Energy, Environment and Tourism of the Azores,
– the Regional Secretariat of Tourism and Culture of Madeira,
– the Regional Tourism Authority of the Algarve,
– the Regional Tourism Authority of Alentejo,
– the Regional Tourism Authority of the Center of Portugal,
– the Regional Tourism Authority of the Lisbon Region,
– the Regional Tourism Entity of Porto and North of Portugal,
– ATA – Azores Tourism Association,
– APM – Association for the Promotion of the Autonomous Region of Madeira,
– ATA – Algarve Tourism Association,
– the Regional Tourism Promotion Agency of Alentejo,
– ATL – Lisbon Tourism Association, Visitors and Convention Bureau,
– the Regional Tourism Promotion Agency of the Center of Portugal,
– the NEST – Tourism Innovation Center.

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