Since opening in 2015, Nazare’s Fort of Sao Miguel Arcanjo has attracted an astounding two million tourists to the Leira region.

The Nazare Council reports that this attraction just this week passed the two million visitor threshold, paving the way for the place to set new standards around the world. This recognition stems from both its appreciation of nature and its well-known large waves at Praia do Norte, a surfing hotspot.

The Nazare Canyon Interpretive Center, which began operations in May 2015, intends to disseminate scientific information regarding the phenomena that causes the enormous waves for which this area is renowned. International tourists are welcome at the fort every day from 10 am to 6 pm.

Portugal’s tourism industry is expected to expand significantly in the next years, as the first seven months of this year have been particularly promising.

According to Nuno Fazeda, Secretary of State for Tourism, the months of January through July are among the finest for tourism in the nation.

According to information from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), between January and July, 16.8 million individuals traveled to Portugal, resulting in 42.8 million overnight stays. In comparison to the same period in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic breakout, this implies a 10% increase in the number of visitor nights spent.

Portugal’s economy also benefited from foreign tourists during this time, with their €3.2 billion contribution exceeding 2019 levels by a remarkable 39%.

The average revenue per occupied room peaked in July of this year at €137.9, topping the data from August 2022 (€136) by over ten percent. Notably, there was a large increase in revenue from overnight stays across all hotel facilities, amounting to 41.8 percent.

According to Fazeda’s analysis, these figures show that the tourist industry has fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic and exhibits quality and resiliency. Algarve won praise for being the best beach destination in Europe, while Porto was praised for being the best European destination for urban getaways. At the World Travel Awards, a number of other locations also garnered recognition in various categories.

In pre-pandemic periods, tourism contributed roughly 15% of Portugal’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), playing a significant role in the country’s economy. The major source market for Portuguese tourism is the United Kingdom, with visitors from the Spanish and American sectors following closely behind.