Portugal, and the Algarve in particularly, continue to attract international recognition. Online travel agency eDreams recently listed the beaches in Faro and Funchal (Madeira Island) in the top-10 most sought-after summer destinations in 2014.
Although Spanish beaches make up most of the list, the beaches in Faro and Funchal grabbed the fifth and ninth spots.
Pablo de Porcioles, eDreams business development director for the Iberian Peninsula, said Portuguese destinations have grown in popularity amongst the agency’s European customers, with flight bookings for Portugal increasing 36% in June this year compared to the same month in 2013.
According to de Porcioles, Portugal’s charm comes from its climate, customs and traditions and, of course, its beaches.
Portugal’s beaches have actually received much international praise recently.
In May, the UK’s The Guardian published a list of the best beaches in Portugal according to its readers, while in April American online newspaper The Huffington Post named Ponta da Piedade in Lagos as “possibly the most beautiful beach on earth”.
