Portugal Is Travel + Leisure’s Destination of the Year

(Source: Travel Pulse)

If our own coverage of Portugal is any indication, the country is very deserving of its newest accolade as Travel + Leisure’s destination of the year.

In their selection, Travel + Leisure editors noted Portugal’s bounce back from economic crisis and its “robust” tourism offerings.

“Just a few years ago, Portugal’s future was looking dim. At the peak of Europe’s debt crisis, the country teetered on the edge of bankruptcy, its economy more crippled than it had been in almost 40 years,” says Travel + Leisure.

That was then. This is now.

Portugal is “exhibiting a dynamism that feels fresh and distinctive,” says Travel + Leisure editor Nathan Lump.

The country definitely has the tourism numbers to back this claim. Tourism grew 10 percent 2015 and 2016 is expected to show even more improvement. U.S. tourism grew by 22 percent, according to Portugal News and there are now nonstop flights to Portugal from eight U.S. cities.

There are many reasons that Portugal is so attractive as a destination.

“It’s easy to access—a mere seven hour flight from much of the Eastern seaboard—and unlike its northern neighbors, Portugal has year-round temperate weather, so there’s no such thing as a bad time to visit.The country remains relatively affordable, making it a magnet for those who want luxury without the sticker shock of Europe’s more well-trod capitals. There are one-of-a-kind hotels popping up everywhere, as well as a growing eco-tourism scene,” says Travel + Leisure.