Being Portuguese has gained a little flair lately, hasn’t it?
The country of Fado, “saudade” and all things fatalist has always stayed quietly under the radar of worldwide travellers, but now that the economy and its people are steadily recovering from a tough crisis, more and more visitors are visiting our beautiful country.
And – by the looks of it – they’re loving it! Case in point: the 2017 World Travel Awards; where the country was recognized as both Europe’s Leading Destination and World’s Leading Destination, making it, effectively, the best tourist destination on the planet (and the very first European country to win this distinction)!
Porto’s contribution
Modesty aside, and though this is a rightful tribute to the entire territory, one cannot downplay Porto’s part in this outstanding win at the World Travel Awards! After all, the city was elected Best European Destination for 3 times in the last 5 years (2017, 2014 and 2012) and has been shattering tourist records year after year.
In 2016, almost 7 million room-nights were sold in the North of Portugal (the administrative region where Porto is featured for national studies and enquiries), and, in the first semester of 2017 alone, the city saw 2 million visitors enjoying its sunny riverfront, amazing restaurants and UNESCO-protected city centre.
Besides, 2017 has also proved to be an amazing year for local Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport, as the city’s flying hub has reached the 10 million passengers mark for the very first time, and has been voted best airport in Europe in category of 5 to 15 million passenger.
At the end of the day, the World Travel Awards are just here to confirm what everyone already seems to know. Portugal, and especially Porto, are no longer emerging destinations. Good infrastructures, a great marketing strategy and tons of things to see and do, have all helped elevate the country and the city into well-established tourist powerhouses. We guess we just need to get used to those trophies!
Have you ever visited Porto? What do you think about the World Travel Awards? Share your opinion with us!
