Benguela - Tour operator Jorge Nunes said on Friday that Angola's participation in the 34th edition of the Lisbon Tourism Exchange (BTL) was an opportunity to get more foreign tourists interested in visiting the country.
The event is runs from February 28 to March 3 at the FIL - Lisbon International Fair, the Lisbon Tourism Exchange has 450 exhibitors and 85 international destinations, and expects to surpass last year's 63,000 visitors.
Speaking to ANGOP via WhatsApp from Lisbon, Jorge Nunes, head of the digital platform Hotéis Angola, said the country is present at BTL with a stand under the umbrella of INFOTUR (Institute for the Promotion of Tourism), which brings together various national tour operators.
"What we're really trying to do is show an Angola that is more accessible to tourists, because they no longer need visas," said Jorge Nunes, in a clear reference to the government's measure to exempt citizens of 98 countries from tourist visas to enter Angola.
He added that the expectation is to open the doors of the country to be visited, since it has a lot of tourist potential to be on the route of tourists of various nationalities.
Highlight
Tour operator also highlighted the visit of the President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, to the Angolan stand, where he was welcomed by Ambassador Maria de Jesus Ferreira.
"All the operators had the chance to meet President Marcelo de Sousa and he had the opportunity to taste some local food and also to be presented with some gifts," he emphasized.
The 34th edition of BTL has Cape Verde as its guest country, which has a prominent presence as an international destination, and Brazil is once again the country with the largest exhibition area at the fair.
Other destinations will be present, such as Guatemala, Venezuela, Uruguay, Vietnam, Jordan and Albania, through the national tourism sectors or tour operators.
Among the novelties at BTL, religious tourism stands out, with 14 promoters present and activities throughout the five days of the fair. JH/CRB/DAN/AMP
