The Regional Secretary for Energy, Environment and Tourism stated in Lisbon that the attraction of events to the Region is a priority for the sustainability of the Azores Destination, highlighting the 2017 Travel Congress of ABTA - Association of British Travel Agents as an "excellent" example of the investment in this segment.

 Marta Guerreiro spoke after signing an agreement between the Government of the Azores, ABTA and APAVT - Portuguese Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies in the context the 2017 ABTA Travel Congress. The event will take place at Teatro Micaelense in Ponta Delgada between October 9 and 11.

 "This event will bring about 600 people to the Region, including British travel agents, tour operators and journalists," said the Regional Secretary. She added that "it will be an exceptional opportunity to promote the Azores with British travel agents, bearing in mind that it is one of the priority markets for the Region."

 Marta Guerreiro stressed that this initiative represents that "the increase of tourism flows has extended throughout the year and shows how the Azores can be positioned with regard to the business tourism industry."

 The UK market is one of nine tourism markets defined in the Strategic Plan and Marketing for Azores Tourism. In 2016, it registered a growth of 12.26% in the number of guests compared to the previous year.

 "The British are one of the people with more appetite for travelling outside their country, which, together with the geographical proximity of the Azores, make us believe that there is a growth potential in tourism flows from this market to the Region," stressed the Secretary for Tourism.

 ABTA is an association that encompasses the vast majority of British travel agents, with about 1,200 members and over 5,000 shops and offices; 90% of holiday packages in the UK are sold by the members of this association.

 Therefore, the organisation of its congress in the Azores will further project the visibility of the Region and boost sales to the Azores.