Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Jorge Montezinho
Published on 2024-03-02 10:01:25
The archipelago is the international guest destination of the event that starts this Wednesday and runs until March 3rd. Coimbra and the Azores are also highlighted destinations in this year’s edition. When announcing Cape Verde’s selection, BTL stated that the country’s participation in this event strengthens the bonds between Portugal and Cape Verde, “providing visitors with a detailed view of the tourist resources that the destination has to offer.”
Cape Verde is the international destination featured in the 2024 edition of the Lisbon Tourism Exchange (BTL), which will take place from February 28th to March 3rd at the FIL – Parque das Nações. In a statement, the government acknowledged that the invitation is “particularly timely at a time when there is a significant increase in the demand for Cape Verde as a tourist destination by the Portuguese” – recent data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) shows that Portugal is the second-largest source market for tourists to the archipelago, representing 12.2% of entries and 12.3% of overnight stays in the second quarter of 2023.
“The presence at BTL comes as an excellent opportunity for Cape Verde to assert itself as a differentiated tourist destination, celebrating its people, landscapes, culture, and historical heritage, in line with the Operational Plan for Tourism 2022/2026. This plan aims to diversify markets, valorize the tourist product, and promote environmental sustainability,” the document reads.
On Tuesday, in Lisbon, at a press conference, the Minister of Tourism and Transport reiterated the government’s commitment to promoting Cape Verde as a tourist destination. “We are excited to start this journey at BTL, highlighting the charm of Cape Verde,” said Carlos Santos, as quoted by Inforpress. “We want to showcase not only the stunning beaches of Boa Vista and Sal but also our rich culture, ecotourism, water sports, and much more,” the official continued.
In addition to meetings with Portuguese tour operators, Cape Verde seeks to strengthen relationships with international partners interested in collaborating and investing in the country’s tourism development. “This opportunity we will have at the Lisbon Tourism Exchange is precisely for us to present this destination. These islands are very close to here in continental Europe, but also to say that this is the year we can reach the milestone of one million tourists, and therefore, it is with greater responsibility that we are here,” said Carlos Santos.
“BTL is a crucial opportunity for us to present our new tourism, focused on sustainability and diversification of offerings. We are committed to building a resilient destination for current and future generations,” he emphasized.
BTL – Lisbon Tourism Exchange – features more than 400 exhibitors and a representation of over 1,400 companies and institutions – is already fully booked in the four FIL pavilions, with the organization expecting to surpass last year’s number of visitors, which was over 63,000 people.
Read the original article(Portuguese) on Expresso das Ilhas
