The team helps companies to participate in trade fairs, events, workshops and other events, find distribution channels and get to know the market and the tourists. It promotes Portugal as a tourist destination and in dealings with European institutions, working to safeguard Portuguese interests in tourism. It liaises between the markets and their main players and the Portuguese trade, through workshops, educational and press visits to Portugal and regular visits to the market.
The delegation has a calendar of fairs and school holidays, as well as lists of incentive agencies and lists of operators with programmes to Portugal. The lists of operators are divided by region, product and operator name. The team maintains an up-to-date list of tour operators and travel agents in the market, facilitating contact between professionals in the sector, as well as a useful guide for those who work in tourism.
With a population of 11.7 million, Belgium is a country marked by deep historical divisions. Language is one of the main differentiating factors, with three official languages: Dutch, French and German. About 59% of the population speaks Dutch, which is predominant in Flanders and the Brussels-Capital Region. French is spoken by about 40% of the population, especially in Wallonia and also in Brussels. German, meanwhile, is used by only 1% of the population in the border areas with Germany.
// Tourist profile
With their high purchasing power and a central location in Europe, Belgians see travel as a basic necessity. Several airlines operate routes between Portugal and Belgium, including Brussels Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Transavia, Ryanair and Tui Belgium. Flights operate from Brussels and Charleroi airports to such destinations in Portugal as Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Funchal and Ponta Delgada (this last only in summer).
Belgians are interested in cultural visits, outdoor activities, gastronomy and wine. About 2/3 of Belgians travel independently to Europe. An increasing number of tour operators are specialising in products such as fly&drive, cultural and scenic tourism, city breaks and nature tourism, particularly walking and cycling.
There are over 1,600 travel agencies in Belgium: about 930 in Flanders, 440 in Wallonia and 250 in Brussels. There are several associations of independent agents, such as Selectair, Avitour and Travel Experts, whose relevance in the market is growing. The main professional associations that regulate the industry include the Belgian Travel Confederation, the Association of Belgian Tour Operators, the VVR (Association of Flemish Travel Agencies), and the UPAV (Professional Association of Francophone Travel Agents).
// Location
Belgium – BrusselsTurismo de Portugal
Avenue de Cortenbergh 12 Kortenberglaan
B - 1040 Bruxelles/Brussel – Bélgique/België
Tel: 003222864339
Coordinates: 50° 50' 34.90" N | 4° 23' 7.52" E
info.belgium@turismodeportugal.pt
// Team
Raquel Coelho - Tourism Promotion
raquel.coelho@turismodeportugal.pt
Tel.: 003222864343
Inês Delgado Alves - European Affairs
ines.delgado@turismodeportugal.pt
Tel.: 003222864337
Luís Campos - European Affairs
luis.campos@turismodeportugal.pt
Tel.: 0032479650458
Tel.: 00351916804059
