A Portuguese tourism official has said Chinese visitors spent €130 million (US$152.8 million) in Portugal last year, 40 percent more than the year before, Lusa reports.
The Portuguese news agency quotes Luís Filipe Silva, a member of the board of Turismo de Portugal, as saying so at ITB China, a business-to-business exhibition held in Shanghai, which focuses on the Chinese market for travel.
Mr Silva said Portuguese retailers were increasingly aware that Chinese visitors really like to shop, as well as appreciating Portuguese culture, heritage and cuisine.
He said Beijing Capital Airlines was considering increasing the frequency of its thrice-weekly direct flights between China and Portugal.
About 260,000 Chinese visited Portugal last year, 40 percent more than the year before, Lusa says.
