Portugal attracts new tourists, younger and more sophisticated

Wednesday, 12 October 2011 00:00

Most visitors to Portugal are exploring the country for the first time. The majority are young couples or friends that are traveling together. The youthful population of tourists means more reliance on to the internet as a means ofchoosing their destination. They look for cheap and modernized accommodation and leave satisfied with the range of choices they are presented.

According to the study of Tourist Satisfaction, conducted during the high season for Turismo de Portugal, almost all (95%) of the tourists felt that the holidays either met or exceeded their expectations. This number is in line with the results of the two satisfaction surveys already carried out by Turismo de Portugal – in high season 2010 and low season 2011 - in which more than 90% of tourists said they matched or exceeded expectations. The constancy of these results gives us reliable information about our external demand.

In addition, 87% of the tourists were satisfied with their experience and justunder half left very satisfied. The natural beauty and cultural uniqueness of Portugal (beaches, landscapes, gastronomy and monuments) recorded the highest levels of satisfaction in the surveys.

The security of the destination, restaurants and accommodation - units of superior quality hotels and lodges are increasingly in demand - meeting or exceeding the expectations of over 90% of the tourists.

At the end of their trip, weather, hospitality and beaches are the words that best define Portugal and 86% of tourists say they intend to return for vacation.