Chinese tourists spend 33 million euros in Portugal

Tourism income generated in Portugal by tourists from China totaled 33.5 million euros from January to August 2014, more than double the figure for the same period of 2013, said Thursday in Beijing the President of Turismo de Portugal.
João Cotrim Figueiredo told Portuguese news agency Lusa that the number of Chinese visitors to Portugal in the first half of 2014 increased 69 percent to 55,400.
The President of Turismo de Portugal also said that Chinese tourist reservations for Portugal in February increased by over 50 percent compared to the same period of 2014.
The increase was determined after “consultation of airlines” about movement during the Lunar New Year, which starts on 19 February.
“The available figures are not definitive,” but the result of the query “points to Portugal as a destination benefiting from demand from Chinese tourists,” said Cotrim Figueiredo.
“The exchange rate is expected to drive consumption by Chinese tourists during their visit to Portugal,” said the president of Turismo de Portugal.
Portuguese Real Madrid soccer star, Cristiano Ronaldo, is the face of Portugal’s tourism promotion in China. MDT/Macauhub