Statement

Lisbon, May 8th– AIP Foundation,  organizer of BTL – Lisbon Travel Market hereby informs all the exhibitors, partners, visitors and media that due to the current global situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and complying with all the recommendations of the DGS – Health Department of the Portuguese Government – and of WHO – World Health Organization, – that it has decided to cancel BTL 2020, which was scheduled to be held from the 27^th to the 31^st of May.

AIP Foundation, upon listening to the views of the different partners as well as public and private entities of the Tourism Sector, has concluded that, given the stage of development of the pandemic, the necessary conditions to ensure the realization of BTL 2020 on the designated dates continue not to be reached. This event will therefore take place only in 2021 between the 3^rd and the 7^th of March at FIL – Feira Internacional de Lisboa.

On this new date, we will be able to ensure the best conditions for the restoration of the dynamics produced by the biggest event of the Tourism Sector in Portugal and likewise for the promotion of vital products and services that define it, as well as for the participation of national and international visitors and speakers.

“Hereby cognizant of the impact of this decision, we cannot but acknowledge and express our thanks for all the support manifested by our clients and partners throughout the years that have made BTL the largest and the finest tourism event in Portugal and are confident that, all together, we will be able to overcome these present circumstances and will be able to organize, in 2021, an even more decisive BTL which  ensures the promotion and undertaking of business in the tourism industry”

“Nevertheless, AIP Foundation expresses its willingness to, in conjunction with the entities responsible for the promotion of the Tourism in Portugal, study the feasibility of during the course of 2020, subject to the constraints of the existing legal framework, organizing an event devoted exclusively to the promotion and support of Tourism in Portugal as an approach to minimizing  the economic impacts resulting from COVID-19.”