The island of São Miguel, in the Azores, will be the host destination of the 44th congress of the Portuguese Association of Travel Agencies and Tourism (APAVT). The event will take place from November 21st to 25th in Ponta Delgada, according to the announcement made by the Regional Secretary for Energy, Environment and Tourism of the Azores (SREAT), Marta Guerreiro, and the association's President, Pedro Costa Ferreira.

Around 500 participants are expected on the Azorean island, including Travel Agents and Tour Operators, opinion leaders and journalists, as well as other stakeholders in the Portuguese tourism sector. The Azores had already been the setting for the APAVT grand meeting in 1995, 2006 and 2013.

Teatro Micaelense, in Ponta Delgada, is receiving the work sessions. "With this congress, we celebrate the 'good tide' the Azores are experiencing, a corollary of a work of many years, gathering travel agents, the Azores authority, and other partners in the sector. Close, constant and side by side work! Work that, with this congress, will continue, on behalf of the sector and thinking about the autonomous region. We are, of course, enthusiastic and happy!" said Pedro Costa Ferreira, the President of APAVT. The Regional Secretary for Energy, Environment and Tourism of the Azores, Marta Guerreiro, stated that "We know that the APAVT Congress is known as an important engine in increasing the flow of tourists, so hosting this event in the Azores will be a very important moment of promotion, taking into account the profile of the vast majority of participants, concretely, travel agents that promote and market potential destinations."

Founded in 1950, APAVT brings together associates from different areas of the industry, including Portuguese and foreign travel agencies, aviation companies, hotels, restaurants, rent-a-car and official tourism organisations, among others.