Safe, sunny and plenty to see
ANCIENT AND MODERN THE LAND OF THE EXPLORERS OFFERS A WARM WELCOME TO MODERN TRAVELERS, WHETHER THEY COME FOR BUSINESS OR PLEASURE.

EASY LIFE Portugal’s beautiful beaches and pleasant waterside cafés are ideal for those seeking a relaxing vacation

WORLD tourism organizations see a bright future for Portugal, predicting that it will play host to 40 million foreign tourists in 2010. If the forecast proves correct it will take its place among the world’s top ten most visited countries.
There is plenty to tempt the tourist. Portugal offers some of Europe’s most beautiful beaches and liveliest resorts, while its spectacular golf courses make it one of Europe’s premier destinations for the sport.
It is a land of ancient, sun-drenched cities, castles and fortresses, palaces and cathedrals, divided into provinces of varied character. These include the beautiful Atlantic islands of Madeira and the Azores, the latter 760 miles due west of Lisbon.

Portugal is blessed with a temperate climate—cooler to the north, where the highest part of the country, the Serra da Estrela, is popular for skiing; warmer and drier in south, where the resorts and wide sands of the Algarve are to be found.
Lisbon has a history that goes back more than 1,000 years and is graced with reminders of the golden age of discoveries. It was from here that the great Portuguese adventurers set out in the 15th and 16th centuries to extend the boundaries of the known world.
At the same time, the Portuguese capital is a vibrant, modern European city and business hub, offering an abundance of sophisticated pleasures to its visitors, ranging from lively nightlife and entertainment to high culture. Somewhere in between, comes the fado—perhaps best described as a quintessentially Portuguese form of urban blues. Special events are staged in Lisbon throughout the year, including cultural and religious festivals, exhibitions and sports tournaments.
Portugal currently receives around 12 million tourists annually, most of whom stay about a week. The sector makes a major contribution to the economy, accounting for more than 8 percent of gross national product and providing employment, either directly or indirectly, for 10 percent of the working population.

MONUMENTAL Lisbon cathedral is one of the sights of the capital

Total hotel capacity is 220,000 beds—39 percent in the southern part of the country, 24 percent in the capital and Tagus Valley area and 10 percent in Madeira.
The National Plan for Economic and Social Development 2000-2006 recognizes tourism as being fundamental to growth and to the improvement of the quality of life enjoyed by the Portuguese people.
Most tourists and visitors come from Western Europe—particularly from Portugal’s neighbor, Spain. The United States is the most important point of origin for tourists coming from outside Europe. Vacation-taking within the country itself has also been increasing.

Significantly, Portugal’s tourism industry was not badly affected by the aftermath of 9/11. It is rightly perceived as a safe and secure place to vacation, an aspect the authorities are understandably eager to promote.
Portugal enjoys an established image as a vacation destination for the high-quality, professional service it offers its visitors.
The country has built on the boost it received from Expo’98 and is looking forward to another leap forward when it hosts the European soccer championship in 2004. A new 65,000-seat arena—named the Stadium of Light because the roof will be illuminated—is due to be completed next year.

Measures have been taken recently to further boost the sector, including the creation of a national investment agency, the Portuguese Institute of Tourism (ITP), which will work with Portuguese embassies abroad to promote the country.
The focus has shifted from the physical growth of the sector toward improving quality, diversification, competitiveness and sustainability.
Key elements in the new strategy include integrated planning at the national, regional and local level, promotion of regional diversity, development of both traditional and new tourism products, and encouragement of the competitiveness and modernization of tourism companies.