Oscar Tomasi
Lisbon, 3 mar (EFE).-beyond its beaches, gastronomy or fado, Portugal presents original proposals to attract new tourists, such as cosmetic surgery, a new market niche, particularly in certain African countries with high growth rates.
“Aesthetic tourism” is one of the most surprising initiatives which met this year in the fair the most important sector of Portugal, the Lisbon tourism bag (BTL).
The new bet encourages an edition of the show in which the consequences of the crisis are can feel, especially in the Pavilion of international destinations, with fewer participating countries and less square meters of exhibition.
Mamoplastias, Rhinoplasty and facelifts and liposuction are the basis of the brochure is divided into a “stand” at the fair, and whose services are primarily aimed at Angola, a country that has grown over the past decade at a rate of two-digit media driven by its great oil wealth.
The project is born from the partnership between two companies, the “Lusoespañola clinic” – Portuguese company directed by the surgeon Spanish Emilio Valls, told Efe the own signature – and the travel agency Vigemac, with the aim of creating a “package” for visitors.
“In Angola there is no cosmetic surgery centers.” “The objective is that you people that they are now going to Brazil or to other countries to treatments, do not have to make a long trip and they can stay in Portugal”, explained a spokesman for the clinic.
High purchasing power of Angolans are now the main clients of the most luxurious shops of the Centre of Lisbon, who wear the names of major firms of international designers.
The Angolan capital is also increasingly present in which once outside his colonial power, and can be found in the major banks and companies in the country.
“We now offer a package so that anyone who wants to submit to one of these treatments, can do so with discounts both in air travel through the Agency as at own clinic”, noted the sources.
Also had its own space in the BTL several companies representing new trends in the sector, as strings of reservation of hotels on the Internet or “online” companies that also specialise in discounts.
“Is a good place for us to meet our current partners and seek new ones”, pointed out from the exhibitor “Groupon”, whose activity in the fair focused more on the professionals who direct public.
In regards to international destinations, the Lisbon event returned to gather several countries of those considered “exotic” one more year.
Safaris in Botswana, the red desert of Uzbekistan or the megalopolis of Dubai touted this week in the capital of Portugal, also attended the Azalai Hotel Group, which presented its accommodation in Mali, Guinea Bissau and Burkina Faso by.
Thailand with their massages, Morocco with tea and Japan with the game encouraged visitors to the BTL, which this year was invited to Brazil destination.
The South American country, a power in the field of cosmetic surgery tourism, does not seem concerned about the crisis in the sector and deployed in Lisbon the strength of their traditional offerings helped by a feast of gastronomy and typical dances that was the greatest show of the BTL. EFE
