Carlos Abade, the president of Turismo de Portugal, has expressed optimism regarding Portugal's tourism sector, stating that the recent international conflicts are not expected to have a

negative impact. Despite facing challenges such as the conflict in Ukraine, inflation, and fluctuating interest rates in 2023, Portugal experienced robust growth in tourism.

Abade highlighted that, globally, the tourism sector reached around 95% of pre-pandemic 2019 values in 2023. However, Portugal surpassed this benchmark, achieving unprecedented numbers in terms of guests, overnight stays, and revenue. Speaking at the Madrid International Tourism Fair (FITUR), Abade shared that Portugal's tourism sector is far beyond the global average growth.

Recent data indicates that Portugal is poised for significant success in 2023, with forecasts projecting approximately 77 million overnight stays, marking an almost 11% increase compared to 2022. Revenues are expected to reach close to 25 billion euros, representing a remarkable 40% growth compared to 2019.

Abade emphasized that 2023 was a record-breaking year, and the outlook for 2024 is positive, expecting the growth trend to continue. He noted that Portugal was only 7.6% away from reaching the revenue estimates for the sector in 2027, which were set at 27 billion euros.

In the face of international conflicts, Abade reassured that Portugal does not anticipate adverse effects on tourism growth and value. He expressed confidence that conflicts, such as those in the Middle East, will not hinder Portugal's tourism sector from attracting visitors and experiencing economic growth. Photo by muffinn from Worcester, UK, Wikimedia commons.