A hit with the tourists – Portugal’s charms bring record numbers of visitors to its shores
- Portugal’s hotel visitor numbers up 4.2% in 2013 (Portuguese government)
- Foreign property purchasers account for as much as 57% of some markets (Savills)
- Overseas Property Show set to bring Portuguese property market to the UK (Ideal Homes Portugal)
2013 was a record year for tourism in Portugal, with some 14.2 million visitors staying in the country’s hotels, up 4.2% on the year before. The figures, released by the Portuguese government, show that foreign visitors accounted for the majority (58%) of overnight stays – an increase of 8.3% on 2012.
“2013 was a record number in terms of the number of tourists in Portugal and the number of overnight stays. It was crucial for Portugal’s economic recovery,” reports Economy Minister Antonio Pires de Lima.
The data shows that foreign tourists’ spend during the year contributed more than €9 billion to the recovering Portuguese economy, with British, German and Spanish visitors proving particularly fond of Portugal, along with a blossoming market of US visitors. Portugal’s National Statistics Institute (INE), reported an increase of 16.4% in overnight hotel stays by American visitors, accompanied by a revenue surge of 21%. Jayme Simoes of the Portuguese National Tourist Office comments,
“The US was one of the fastest growing inbound tourism markets in Portugal in 2013. In these uncertain times, American travelers are looking for two things: value for the dollar and the value of experience, [and] Portugal is strong on both counts.”
Indeed, Portugal’s attractions are enough that the Iberian country actually attracted significantly more visitors during 2013 (14.2 million) than it had residents, which the 2011 Census confirmed as just over 10.5 million.
For many of those visitors, Portugal’s stunning scenery, balmy climate and championship golf courses proved too much of a lure, leading to a buoyant second home market. The golf-focused Quinta do Lago region of the Algarve, for example, saw British buyers account for 57% of all property purchases during 2013 according to Savills. Chris White, Founding Director of boutique real estate agency Ideal Homes Portugal, observes,
“Demand from British buyers looking for second homes in Portugal – and specifically in the Algarve – is extremely strong at the moment. So much so, in fact, that we are bringing a slice of the Portuguese property market to Britain, through the Overseas Property Show roadshows being held in leading UK cities between September and November.”
The Overseas Property Show will give all those interested in purchasing their dream second home in Portugal the chance to interrogate the Ideal Homes Portugal team of experts on everything from details of how and where to buy in Portugal to the Algarve’s best golf courses. Apartments, townhouses and villas are all available to UK buyers, including a stunning five bedroom villa at Quinta do Lago with its own pool and private jetty on to the lake.
The Ideal Homes Portugal offering was certainly more than enough for Duncan Bannatyne of Dragon’s Den fame, who recently purchased a villa in the Algarve through the company and who will be attending one of the upcoming Overseas Property Show events.
For further details of the Overseas Property Shows and of leading Portuguese properties, call Ideal Homes Portugal on 0800 133 7644 or +351 289 513 434, email enquiries@idealhomesportugal.com or visit www.idealhomesportugal.com or www.theoverseaspropertyshow.com.