Portugal's Secretary of State for Tourism Adolfo Mesquita Nunes said today that "2014 was the best year ever for tourism in Portugal," with revenue expected to top €10 billion.
The figures for January to November 2014 show a growth in overnight stays in Portugal of three times than seen in Spain - a market six times the size of Portugal's.
"The data today revealed by the National Institute of Statistics confirm that 2014 will be the best year ever for tourism in Portugal, with a growth of over 10% compared to Portugal’s record year when comparing the number of overnight stays, the number of guests or the income received. This confirms that we are growing at three times the rate of Spain in terms of overnight stays," according to a delighted Nunes.
The Secretary of State said that no tourist destination is built in three years and praised the effort and commitment of those in the sector including workers, the hospitality schools that train staff, regional tourism bodies and municipalities which have worked under successive governments.
"If you had to choose one key factor, it would be private enterprise, and the tourism promotion agencies" said Nunes, choosing two.
Looking at November 2014 and the main tourist markets, the Belgians stood out, up 57%, the French up 38% and the Brazilians up 21%.
The Irish were back in force with a 21% rise but the Spanish, despite stories of hungry Iberians flooding the Algarve in search of seafood, were a disappointment with an overall drop in numbers of 9%.
Last year was the best ever and with the strong pound enabling British families to book now for their Easter and summer holidays; 2015 should be better still.
