IPDAL brought together the highest tourism authorities in Portugal, Spain and Peru, to discuss the sector’s recovery.

The XII Tourism Forum “Portugal – Latin America”, which had the support of Deloitte, the European University, BPI and COSEC, brought together proposals from Rita Marques, Isabel Oliver and Guillermo Cortés, so that the three countries keep tourism as an economic priority.

The Secretaries of State for Tourism in Portugal and Spain revealed that they are studying protocols of understanding and joint actions, which will allow attracting more tourists from the main source markets. The Vice Minister of Peru confirmed that Portugal is not yet a well-known destination in his country and that the lack of direct air connections continues to be one of the main obstacles.

The Forum took place online, on July 8, 2020, and was dedicated to the theme ‘Regaining Confidence’. Proposals were presented to revive the tourism industry, in this period of emergency, from the traveler’s perspective; of air transport passengers; of the entrepreneur; of the tourist destination, at national and European level, as well as the next generation of professionals.

The debate also included the participation of Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar, Member of the European Parliament, Pedro Costa Ferreira, President of the Portuguese Association of Travel and Tourism Agents (APAVT), Antónia Correia, Director of the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality of the European University , Manuela Barber, Country Manager of Iberia in Portugal, Pedro Coelho, Central Director of Banco BPI, and Sara Poeiras, Director of COSEC.

The Forum was attended by Ambassadors from Latin America and Spain, as well as dozens of companies – the main airlines operating in Portugal, hotel groups, travel agents and tour operators – and sector associations, such as the Hotel, Restaurant and Similar of Portugal (AHRESP) and the Hotel Association of Portugal (AHP)