The authors of the report released to the media on Friday indicated that the record low number of foreign holidaymakers is the result of the pandemic that struck Portugal in March 2020, as well as sanitary restrictions.
Portugal. The biggest drop in the number of tourists in history
We conclusions from the document entitled “Tourism statistics in 2020: an unprecedented reduction in activity”, INE analysts indicated that the record decline in the number of vacationers was visible in all regions of the country.
In 2020, 6.5 million foreigners reached Portugal tourists, i.e. by 73.7 percent. less than in 2019. The authorities of the National Statistical Office indicated that 2019 was the last year during which an increase in the number of holidaymakers was visible – by 7.9 percent.
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The greatest number tourists in Portugal in 2020 they were vacationers from the neighboring town Spain. In total, they constituted 28.5 percent. all foreign vacationers.
The loosening of the restrictions was not enough for Portugal to return to tourist normality
The Portuguese government’s statistical agency indicated that despite the easing of restrictions during the spring of 2021, the number of foreign tourists is still lower than in the period before the pandemic. In May, over 0.9 million holidaymakers were recorded there, i.e. by over 60 percent. less compared to the same month in 2019.
From Lisbon, Marcin Zatyka (PAP)
