Tourism from France, UK and Spain losing ground to emerging markets

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While French tourists remain the biggest spenders in Portugal, a title they have held since 2011 when overtaking their British counterparts, the amount of cash being left behind here is fast being approached by new markets such as Russia, China and Angola, a report published this week by newspaper P?blico has revealed.

Last year was a record year in terms of revenue generated from tourism in Portugal, with close to 9.3 billion euros being spent by tourists in the country.

France consolidated its position as the most important tourism market for Portugal, with proceeds climbing 8.6 percent in 2013 fto a total of 1.68 billion euros, increasing the gap with second-placed Britain, whose tourism spend in Portugal rose by less than half (4.2 percent) when compared with growth from France.

Spain kept its position on the podium, and despite the crisis gripping Portugal?s only neighbours, it still managed to spend 2.7 percent more in 2013 than it did the previous year, leaving behind 1.13 billion euros. But Portugal, despite being a fifth of the size of Spain, almost paid back this amount, spending 876 million euros in Spain last year.

The latest report by the International Monetary Fund has cautioned against excessive optimism in Portugal, saying the crest of the tourism wave could be short-lived should the political situation in North Africa, once a popular destination for French tourists, stabilise to pre-Arab spring levels.

Overall, France, Britain and Spain now account for less than half of tourism expenditure in Portugal, after together having had a 54 percent share back in 2007.

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Source: Tourism from France, UK and Spain losing ground to emerging markets, The Portugal News Online 1 published Mar 06, 2014. Viewed Mar 24, 2014.