Maker of port wine Porto Cálem begun last month deploying Chinese-speaking guides to give Chinese visitors guided tours of its cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia, in northern Portugal, Lusa reports.
The Portuguese news agency quotes Porto Cálem tourism director Maria Manuel Ramos as saying China is a new source of free-spending visitors to Porto Cálem facilities, which has strong potential to grow in importance.
The report says Chinese can book tours of the Porto Cálem cellars on the Asia-based Klook website, and will soon be able to use Alipay, a Chinese electronic payment service, to make purchases in Porto Cálem shops.
At present, one in 100 visitors to Porto Cálem facilities is Chinese, and the winemaker wishes to increase the number to at least five in 100, Lusa quotes Ms Ramos as saying.
