“It is more than evident that Brexit will bring consequences, it is already bringing them. Until this period of uncertainty and this wear and tear that is being created by the process has been dragging on for so long, it will have an undesirable impact” she told Lusa.


To encourage British tourists to continue visiting the country, in March this year, Portugal’s Tourism launched the ‘Brelcome’ campaign, a pun between ‘Brexit’ and the word ‘welcome’, as part of a contingency plan to minimise the economic impact of Britain’s departure from the European Union.


In addition to a dedicated online helpline and a specific information area on the VisitPortugal portal, British tourists will benefit from facilities such as visa waivers, dedicated airport corridors, use of health insurance and recognition of driving licences.


The aim is “to try to reassure the British, saying that Portugal is still here, no matter what happens, with open arms,” Marques said.
On the other hand, the government is investing in the growth of other issuing markets “which may gradually replace the United Kingdom in the short and medium term,” noting the increases in visitors from North America, Central America, Asia and Oceania.


“We have to ensure that this process runs with some normality, within its abnormality,” Marques said when she visited the ‘World Travel Market’ (WTM) fair at the Excel London exhibition centre.


The national participation is coordinated by the Lisbon Tourism Association and includes 93 companies and the seven Regional Tourist Promotion Agencies (Porto and North, Centre, Lisbon, Alentejo, Algarve, Madeira and Azores), which occupy a stand of 812 square metres.
The presence at WTM is part of a set of promotional actions developed with the British market, the larges


WTM, the largest British tourism fair and one of the most important in the world, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, has more than 5,000 exhibitors from around the world and the organisers estimate last year’s edition to have resulted in contracts worth €3.5 billion.