Portugal fights to avoid Brexit impact by launching campaign to promote tourism

Portugal is getting ready to launch a campaign to promote tourism in Britain to prevent negative effects of Brexit, Portuguese media reported on Tuesday.

Ana Mendes Godinho, Portugal's Secretary of State for Tourism, told Portuguese News Agency Lusa that the country had held meetings with several British operators and companies to anticipate "possible effects" and to guarantee that tourists and residents would not be affected by Brexit.

Britain's decision to quit the EU on June 23 led to widespread concern regarding the country's political and economic risks.

However Mendes Godinho believes the British will continue being Portugal's number one visitors.

"I think we have to be prepared to minimize possible impacts. Really, this year, numbers show that there has been no impact up to now. The UK market for Portugal is growing 15 percent, so that shows a great capacity for our country to attract the British," Mendes Godinho pointed out.

She said the campaign was aimed at strengthening ties between Britain and Portugal.

Tourism has been growing in Portugal, Mendes Godinho said, with the number of foreign overnight guests growing by around 10 percent. Endit