Portugal: Revenue From Tourism Reached €22 Billion, Surpassing Pre-Pandemic Levels
“Portugal ended the year 2022 with 22,000 million euros, which is absolutely extraordinary because, in one year, we not only managed to recover what we did in 2019 but also surpassed the results by another 20 per cent”, the Minister pointed out in this regard.
Silva’s comments came at the closing session of the inauguration of the new School of Hospitality and Tourism (EHTP), in Portimao, while he said that tourism which is among the engines of development of the country’s economic sector was also highly affected by the spread of the Coronavirus and its new variants for about two years, leading to a great demotivation.
Portugal’s Minister of Economy said that there were many people who thought that in order to recover pre-pandemic levels it would take about three, four or five years while stressing that the country managed to recover during last year alone.
The Minister considers that in order for Portugal to achieve one of the goals of being among the most sustainable destinations in the world it is needed to work together, developing collaborative networks.
Silva went on to say that prejudice in the country in relation to tourism still exists, an industry that he recalled is undoubtedly among the fundamental pillars of the country’s economic development.
The Minister emphasized that his Ministry has a clear vision of tourism, stressing that is a tool to develop the country, including autonomous regions of Madeira and Azores.
A recent survey conducted by Air Journal, provided by the travel search engine Liligo, revealed that after Morocco, Portugal was the main tourist destination for French citizens last year.
Despite the fact that the tourism sector was highly affected by the restrictions imposed to contain the spread of the Coronaviurs and its new variants, the recent figures provided by Portugal’s Minister of Economy show that the country has managed to welcome a large number of international visitors, even surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
Besides travellers from European countries, last year authorities in Portugal announced that they received a large number of tourists from the United States as well.
