Portugal is set for a historic year, in terms of tourism revenue, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has predicted.
The WTTC expects inbound tourism to contribute more than €54bn to Portugal’s economy this year. This would represent 20% of the country’s total economy and be up by over 24% on pre-Covid 2019 levels.
Portugal’s tourism industry is on the way to employing 1.14 million people; 126,000 up on 2019 levels, the WTTC said. International visitors are set to spend around €31bn this year, with a further €18bn due from domestic tourists.
Last year, tourism contributed €52bn to Portugal’s economy, with international visitor spend surging by over 9%.
Julia Simpson, WTTC President and CEO, said: “Tourism in Portugal is a cornerstone of the country’s economy, driving growth and contributing 1.1 million jobs.
“The Government’s efforts to boost tourism have played a key role in attracting more visitors to the country, leading to unprecedented growth and opportunities.
“The ongoing influx of tourists from around the world has resulted in substantial economic contributions and Portugal is a top travel destination, and the sector’s future looks exceptionally promising.”
The WTTC said it expects Portugal’s tourism industry to only grow further over the next decade – with the sector contributing around €66.5bn to the national economy by 2034.
The Council said the next decade is set to be a period of “remarkable growth and transformation” for Portugal’s tourism industry.
