Lisbon’s BTL tourism fair has been postponed until May after national and regional tourism boards – the Algarve’s included – confirmed that they wouldn’t be taking part over coronavirus fears (click here).
The decision to postpone the fair – which will now take place between May 27 and 31 – was announced by the Portuguese Industrial Association (AIP) on Thursday.
It was made “in conjunction with the government (ministry of economy) and tourism associations”, which decided that the event no longer had the conditions to go ahead and followed recommendations by the National Health Board (DGS), the World Health Organisation (WHO) as well as the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) and the European Major Exhibition Centres Association (EMECA).
“We are aware of the impact of this decision and we have to thank our clients and partners for all their support over the years which helped establish BTL as the biggest and best tourism promotion event in Portugal,” AIP said in a statement.
The association says it is “confident that together we will be able to overcome the current circumstances” and organise an even better fair in May.