Although 88% of Portuguese nationals did not plan any Christmas breaks this year, those who did represent a significant increase from numbers last year. And most popular areas, too, have changed.
According to a study made by the Institute of Tourism, the number of Portuguese planning Christmas and New Year holidays has leapt from last year’s minimalist 3.8% to a more-buoyant 12%.
Of those who are planning holidays, 72.4% said they will be staying in Portugal, with Porto and the north, surprisingly, being the most sought after destinations, with the Algarve dropping slightly in its usual popularity.
The study also points to the fact that people plan on spending more this year, with at least one in four people saying they would be spending more over the festive season than they did in 2012.
