Tourism Barometer

People in Portugal see tourism as vital for the national economy and opening up new markets for domestic products. However, people believe that large companies and the state reap most of the rewards from the sector’s growth.      
             
This is one of the key findings of the Foundation’s new barometer — the most in-depth study ever on how Portuguese people feel about the impact of tourism and how the sector is regulated.

Researchers Zélia Breda, Eduardo Brito-Marques and Paulo M. M. Rodrigues elaborated this report with three central questions in mind: How do people feel that tourism has impacted their local area? How do they envisage the future of the tourism sector? And what legislation would they like to see implemented?

For most respondents, the impacts of tourism are most keenly felt in the property market, fuelling rising prices and a lack of affordable housing. The study also reveals a widespread perception that tourism drives up the cost of living, strains public services and contributes to urban congestion.

The barometer further shows that most respondents would like to have more say over tourism. Over 70% believe the government should prioritise residents’ quality of life, even if that means lower tourism revenues. A significant majority supports reducing short-term rentals as a way to address the housing crisis.

In regions most affected by tourism, most respondents support imposing tourism quotas in particularly popular areas. There is also a broad consensus on the need to diversify the economy and reduce its dependence on tourism.