14.2m visitors: portugal tourism enjoys record year

2013 was a record year for tourism in Portugal, with some 14.2 million visitors staying in the country's hotels, up 4.2 per cent on the year before. The figures, released by the Portuguese government, show that foreign visitors accounted for the majority (58 per cent) of overnight stays - an increase of 8.3 per cent on 2012.
 
"2013 was a record number in terms of the number of tourists in Portugal and the number of overnight stays. It was crucial for Portugal's economic recovery," reports Economy Minister Antonio Pires de Lima.
 
The data shows that foreign tourists' spend during the year contributed more than €9 billion to the recovering Portuguese economy, with British, German and Spanish visitors proving particularly fond of Portugal, along with a blossoming market of US visitors. Portugal's National Statistics Institute (INE), reported an increase of 16.4 per cent in overnight hotel stays by American visitors, accompanied by a revenue surge of 21 per cent. Jayme Simoes of the Portuguese National Tourist Office comments,
 
"The US was one of the fastest growing inbound tourism markets in Portugal in 2013. In these uncertain times, American travelers are looking for two things: value for the dollar and the value of experience, [and] Portugal is strong on both counts."

For many of those visitors, Portugal's stunning scenery, balmy climate and championship golf courses proved too much of a lure, leading to a buoyant second home market. The golf-focused Quinta do Lago region of the Algarve, for example, saw British buyers account for 57 per cent of all property purchases during 2013 according to Savills. On TheMoveChannel.com, meanwhile, enquiries have risen this summer to their highest level since November last year.

Chris White, Founding Director of boutique agency Ideal Homes Portugal, observes: "Demand from British buyers looking for second homes in Portugal - and specifically in the Algarve - is extremely strong at the moment. So much so, in fact, that we are bringing a slice of the Portuguese property market to Britain, through the Overseas Property Show roadshows being held in leading UK cities between September and November."

The Overseas Property Show will give all those interested in purchasing their dream second home in Portugal the chance to interrogate the Ideal Homes Portugal team of experts on everything from details of how and where to buy in Portugal to the Algarve's best golf courses.