Tourism Goes Strong During Summer In Portugal

ALMADA, PORTUGAL - SEPTEMBER 18: View of 25 de Abril bridge over the Tagus River from the Sanctuary of Christ the King, a Catholic monument and shrine inspired by the Christ the Redeemer statue of Rio de Janeiro and dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, overlooking the city of Lisbon, on September 18, 2022 in Almada, Portugal. The number of foreign tourists visiting the country has surpassed during last July COVID-19 pandemic levels. According to Rita Marques, Portuguese Secretary of State for Tourism, Trade and Services, July has seen record tourist numbers, and it has been the hotel sector’s best July ever in terms of overnight stays and guest numbers. Preliminary calculations from the national statistics institute INE show that the number of hotel guests increased from July 2019 by 6.3 percent and 4.8 percent in terms of overnight stays. Rita Marques also emphasized that these figures once again showed that the tourism sector is a vital part of Portuguese economy. The market’s share of overseas holidaymakers was 41.3 percent in July 2021, but in July 2022 went up to 66.3 percent, a percentage that shows that the Portuguese tourism market has bounced back to normal. (Photo by Horacio Villalobos#Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)