Portugal brought in more money than ever before from tourism in 2023, according to the country’s secretary of state, who expects the sector to continue to grow.
Tourism revenue increased to more than $36.5 billion CAD in 2023 compared to $30.8 billion the previous year, Secretary of State for Tourism, Trade and Services Nuno Fazenda said in comments to reporters in Lisbon on Wednesday, BNN Bloomberg reports. That’s a remarkable spending increase of 18.5% Overnight stays also rose by 10.5% last year.
“It was the best year in the history of tourism in Portugal,” Fazenda said, adding, “In 2024, we are going to grow even more than in 2023.”
Tourists from Great Britain, France, Spain and Germany were responsible for a grat portion of the increase. Fazenda also noted increased visitation from North America and Brazil.
The secretary spoke on the sidelines of a conference in Lisbon in which officials debuted a new campaign called “It’s not tourism. It’s Futourism.” Its aim is to promote sustainable tourism that benefits local communities year-round.
Not only is Portugal wildly popular, it’s also relatively cheap compared to many European countries. And it’s got a climate that’s very agreeable for Canadians, with pleasant temperatures pretty much year-round.
There’s also a tremendous variety of things to see and do, from cultural sites in Lisbon and Porto to wineries in the Douro Valley and hiking and golf in the sunny Algarve. The Azores also make a tremendous spot for lovers of the outdoors. Bonus: it’s less than a six-hour flight from Toronto to Ponta Delgada on the Azorean island of Sao Miguel.
