SPMV president Gabriela Saldanha noted the rise of solo female travellers, backpackers, digital nomads, mobile workers, children and older people, all present specific health and safety needs. “We must improve prevention, expand health literacy, and know how to communicate risk responsibly – without creating unnecessary alarm,” she said.

International tourism has rebounded strongly, with global arrivals reaching 1.4 billion in 2024, close to pre-pandemic levels. In Portugal alone, residents made 3.2 million overseas trips in 2023, up 21.5% on the previous year.

The three-day event, themed “Travel Medicine: New Horizons, New Challenges,” marks the society’s 10th anniversary. Alongside workshops on vaccines and the inaugural Atlantic-Mediterranean Forum, experts from across Europe will debate pressing issues such as the spread of the Aedes mosquito, a carrier of dengue, chikungunya and Zika. The insect was recently detected in Madeira, prompting calls for reinforced surveillance.

Cruise tourism will also be examined, with sessions on respiratory and gastrointestinal outbreaks at sea. “Cruise ships are floating cities, requiring tailored prevention, treatment and isolation strategies,” Saldanha explained, adding that cooperation with maritime health authorities and the travel industry is already underway. The programme further includes debates on international migration, scientific presentations, tributes to leading professionals and the 2025 SPMV Scientific Prize.

Saldanha urged travellers to seek advice before departing. “People can contact the SPMV, the national vaccination network, the Directorate-General for Health, or SNS24. The key is always to be informed before travelling,” she said.