More than a hundred tour operators and travel agents from the United States of America and Canada will head to the Algarve to participate in the “Visit Portugal Travel Trade Market Place” event, starting tomorrow, the 22nd, and running until Sunday, the 27th of October, at the Grande Real Santa Eulália Resort & Hotel Spa.
The initiative, promoted by Turismo do Algarve, in collaboration with Turismo de Portugal, aims to “raise awareness of the diversity of tourism offerings in the various regions of the country and to promote business opportunities and strengthen commercial relations with specialized agents in the sector from the USA and Canada”, according to the organizers.
In addition to the approximately 110 North American operators, «120 companies from the Algarve and other regions of the country are participating in the initiative, with the aim of enhancing business opportunities and strengthening commercial partnerships».
The meeting will be in the format of a “reverse workshop”, “offering companies present the opportunity to meet directly with North American and Canadian buyers, including tour operators and travel agents specializing in the leisure, M&I (Meetings & Incentives) segments and in offers aimed at niche products”.
“Hosting the Visit Portugal Travel Trade Market Place in the Algarve reinforces our region’s commitment to leading the promotion of Portugal as a destination on the international scene. We know that the US and Canadian markets are increasingly curious and interested in our country, and in recent years we have seen remarkable performance in tourism indicators in this regard,” according to André Gomes, president of Turismo do Algarve.
“As such, this event is a unique opportunity for companies in the region to strengthen commercial relations with these markets and increase the number of North American and Canadian tourists visiting the Algarve,” he adds.
Between 2017 and 2023, the US market grew by approximately 200% compared to the Algarve, making it the 3rd most popular destination in Portugal, with a 10% share of overnight stays. In the case of the Canadian market, the Algarve is the second most sought-after destination in Portugal, with a share of around 25%.
Throughout the first half of 1, «the interest of tourists from the USA (+2024%) and Canada (+11,4%) in the Algarve continued to grow, consolidating a trend that has been observed in recent years».
These numbers, especially those from the US market, are expected to increase next year, with the already announced start of United Airlines’ direct flight between New York and Faro.
«The close collaboration that Turismo do Algarve maintains with Turismo de Portugal has been essential for carrying out strategic actions – such as the “Visit Portugal Travel Trade Market Place” – which have allowed the destination to strengthen transatlantic relations and attract more and more visitors from the American continent», says Turismo do Algarve.
This entity says that it remains “focused on identifying and creating opportunities that will stimulate this positive demand and ensure that the Algarve is recognised as an attractive destination in all seasons of the year. This commitment is even more relevant given the confirmation by United Airlines, which will allow the region to have, for the first time, direct connections to the USA, through four weekly connections between Faro and New York, starting in May 2025.”
The “Visit Portugal Travel Trade Market Place” will take place at the Grande Real Santa Eulália Resort & Hotel Spa, where the two-day workshop will take place, in addition to training sessions on the country’s seven tourist regions. The opening dinner will be held at EPIC SANA Algarve, another of the destination’s leading hotels.
In addition to meetings with tour operators and travel agents, the event will also feature the participation of the main airlines that connect Portugal to the USA and Canada, such as TAP, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, and SATA, “constituting a window of opportunity for a possible reinforcement of air connections and accessibility to the destination”.
After the workshop, some of the participants will have the opportunity to visit the various regions of the country through post-tours organized in collaboration with the seven Regional Tourism Promotion Agencies: Algarve, Porto and North of Portugal, Center of Portugal, Lisbon, Alentejo, Azores and Madeira.
The familiarization visit to the Algarve will be attended by 14 tour operators and travel agencies. Through a diverse program, participants will have the opportunity to discover the unique offerings of the destination through various activities that highlight, among other things, the culture, gastronomy and natural beauty of the region.