There have never been so many Brazilian tourists in Portugal. If the 2016 numbers were already surprising, those of 2017 are even better. According to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), 869 thousand Brazilians visited the country, an absolute record, surpassing the 624 thousand of the previous year.

Among the largest markets for tourists to Portugal, Brazil is the fastest growing, registering a 39% increase compared to 2016. It is also worth noting that the country is the absolute leader of visitors outside Europe, ahead of the US (685 thousand). In general terms, Brazil appears in fifth place behind the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and France.

The growth was not only concentrated in the large centers, but in all other regions, including the islands, with emphasis on the Center (43%), Algarve (58%) and the Azores (141%).

The figures are in line with the strategy of Turismo de Portugal, which seeks to promote the interior of the country. “This shows that Brazilians are not limited only to major centers such as Lisbon and Porto, but also opted for the interior and the islands. It is no exaggeration to say that Brazil is rediscovering Portugal through every corner, “says Bernardo Cardoso, director of Turismo de Portugal in Brazil.

In general terms, Portugal received 20.6 million tourists, 9% more than last year, with 12.6 million foreigners, which is also a historical record. Hospitality revenue also grew by 16.6%, with total tourist spending estimated at 3.4 billion euros (also considering local visitors). Revenues from tourism and travel represent 10% of Portugal’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which grew 2.7% in the last year.

Source: Brasilturis
Photo: Press Release