Lagoa strengthens congress tourism credentials with national medical conference

Lagoa has strengthened its position as a leading destination for conferences and business tourism after hosting the 32nd National Congress of Internal Medicine, Portugal’s largest scientific gathering in the specialty.

So says the municipal council of Lagoa, which announced that the event brought together around 1,500 participants from Portugal and abroad at the recently inaugurated Lagoa Congress Centre between May 21 and 23. Organised by the Portuguese Society of Internal Medicine (SPMI), the congress featured approximately 260 speakers and moderators across dozens of scientific sessions, round tables, lectures and research presentations.

Under the theme “From the Algarve to the Future – Innovation in Internal Medicine”, the congress coincided with the 75th anniversary of the SPMI and focused on some of the most pressing challenges facing modern healthcare.

Topics discussed included cardiovascular disease, heart failure, diabetes, obesity, autoimmune disorders, respiratory and infectious diseases, HIV, neurological conditions, stroke, hypertension, venous thromboembolism, palliative care, digital medicine, artificial intelligence in healthcare, the sustainability of health systems, clinical research and organisational innovation.

A strong emphasis was placed on scientific research, with more than 1,400 studies presented during the event, further cementing the congress’s status as Portugal’s principal platform for showcasing advances in internal medicine, the council says. The programme also included five pre-congress training courses covering clinical ultrasound, stroke, autoimmune diseases, obesity and respiratory support therapies.

Beyond its scientific programme, the congress hosted two initiatives open to local residents aimed at improving health literacy and strengthening links between healthcare professionals and the wider community.

The event also delivered an economic boost to the municipality, benefiting hotels, restaurants, retailers and service providers, the municipal authority says. Over several days, Lagoa welcomed healthcare professionals, researchers, institutional partners and industry representatives, many of whom had the opportunity to explore the municipality’s cultural heritage, tourism offerings and gastronomy.

Mayor Luís Encarnação described the congress as “a very important milestone” for both the Lagoa Congress Centre and the municipality’s strategy of attracting major national and international events.

“Hosting one of the country’s largest scientific congresses, with around 1,500 participants, demonstrates the quality of the infrastructure available in Lagoa and the municipality’s capacity to accommodate events with demanding organisational and technical requirements,” he said.

Encarnação added that the impact of such events extends well beyond the conference itself, contributing to the local economy, promoting the region and creating new development opportunities.

According to organisers and the Portuguese Society of Internal Medicine, the event received highly positive feedback, with particular praise for the quality and versatility of the congress centre’s facilities, its technical resources and the support provided by municipal services.

The confidence shown by organisers has already translated into a further commitment, with confirmation that the 33rd National Congress of Internal Medicine will also be held in Lagoa next year.

The decision is expected to further strengthen the municipality’s ambition to establish itself as a key destination for the MICE sector – meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions – while helping diversify the local economy and reduce dependence on seasonal tourism.