Debt-heavy Portugal reaps windfall from surge in tourism
LISBON, Portugal — Portugal’s fragile economy is getting a tonic from tourism this year, with revenue up by more than 10 percent through October including a 20 percent jump in visitors from the United States.
Tourism minister Ana Mendes Godinho says the sector brought in some 11 billion euros ($11.5 billion) in the first 10 months of 2016 — about 1 billion euros more than the same period last year.
Mendes Godinho said in a statement Wednesday that the number of French visitors increased by almost 18 percent.