Published on : Tuesday, February 26, 2019
The National Statistics Institute (INE), which keeps an eye on hotel stays, said total arrivals increased to 12.8 million last year.
The tourism of Portugal has been rising for eight years at a stretch, helping the country to recuperate from a harsh debt crisis as well as financial recession. Nevertheless, some section of the industry considers that it is set to overturn in 2019, partly due to a plunge in British visitors because of Brexit.
In 2018, hotel revenues increased 6%, mainly profiting from domestic tourism, to reach €3.6 billion. However, that growth slowed from 16% a year earlier.
Vacationers from the UK, the largest tourism market of Portugal, stayed fewer nights in the country in 2018, dropping 7.3%. Also, there was a drop among German, French, Dutch and Irish visitors.
On the other hand, Portugal had more visitors from countries like Brazil and North America, with a 20% rise in the US tourist numbers, the data showed.
The total contribution of travel and tourism to Portugal’s GDP reached 17.3%, or €33.5 billion, in 2017, as per the International Tourism Association. Data for 2018 is not yet available.
Tags: Portugal tourism