Destinations 33 Monastery of Alcobaca, founded in the 12th PORTUGAL Visit Portugal / EU6230


Boasting 850 kilometres of beaches lapped by the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal offers a wealth of options for visitors, from sunshine getaways to fascinating city breaks. Lisbon, the coastal nation’s capital, sits on


seven hills and is one of Europe’s great histori- cal cities where sightseers can take in ancient castles, narrow cobbled streets and breath- taking boulevards. Meanwhile, the country’s second largest city, Porto, champions modern heritage on the banks of the River Douro with its stunning bridges and monuments. The Algarve in the south is another strong


tourist draw. Offering whitewashed villages, beautiful beaches and a dramatic coastline, the picturesque region is a popular family retreat. The island archipelago of Madeira, meanwhile, sits 400 kilometres north of the Canary Islands and is known for its lush landscapes and speci- ality arts and crafts. Portugal’s other offshore territory, the Azores, comprises nine islands 1,500 kilometres west of Lisbon and has some


of the highest mountains on the planet when measured from their ocean base to the peaks. According to Portugal’s National Statistics


Institute, the Western European nation attracted 11.4 million inbound tourists in 2016 – an impres- sive leap of 12.7 percent from the previous year. Domestic travellers increased by 4.8 percent


to 7.6 million, while hotels tallied total revenues of US$3 billion (EUR2.82 billion), up 17 percent. Portugal also enjoyed blossoming recognition


in the international media, as it was named Travel and Leisure’s destination of the year for 2016. The New York-based magazine praised the


country’s “fresh and distinctive dynamism” and noted the 22 percent increase in American tour- ists last year, while also championing its fresh wave of quality hotel options (with 40 open- ings) and reinvigorated arts scene. For the third consecutive year, Portugal was


Portugal won the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament in France, beating the host nation 1-0 after extra time in the final to claim its first ever major football title


also named the World’s Best Golf Destination at the World Golf Awards. There are currently 91 golf courses in Portugal, of which 66 have 18 or 27 holes. Algarve is the region with the most golf courses in Portugal (44 percent), followed by the Lisbon region (17.58 percent). With its natural splendour, modern attrac-


tions and warm weather, Portugal’s future as a global destination looks bright. The World Travel and Tourism Council estimates that tourism will total 18 percent of the country’s GDP in 2026, accounting for 9.6 percent of direct employ- ment in the workforce.


Lisbon’s tram system Porto Sintra National Palace


Portugal has 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These include the century by King Alfonso I, and


the Historic Centre of Evora, whose architecture showcases its rich history


Nowhere in the United Kingdom is more than 75 miles from the sea. According to the Ordnance Survey, the furthest point from the sea is the village of Coton in the Elms in Derbyshire


UNITED KINGDOM United Kingdom / EU7030


Comprising England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom is one of the world’s most visited countries. A hotbed of culture and history, the country


is home to 30 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Among them are the Tower of London – the nation’s most visited paid attraction with around 2.8 million annual guests – and Stonehenge, the prehistoric monument in Wiltshire that dates back 5,000 years. London, the UK capital, is one of the plan-


et’s premier cities and is packed with things to see and do. Itineraries include the London Eye, Westminster Abbey and the Tate Modern art gallery that welcomes thousands of visitors daily. Alternatively, tourists can catch a show in the West End, see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace or take a double-decker bus tour to learn more about the city. For those who prefer a more scenic vaca-


tion in England, the Lake District and the Peak District offer spectacular greenery, while cities


such as Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham are lively hubs for dining, shopping and culture. Scotland is famed for its atmospheric High-


lands and pristine golf courses, and its capital Edinburgh is a magnet for tourists. Held in the summer, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world’s largest arts festival. Meanwhile Wales offers stunning valleys,


castles and national parks, and recently launched its ‘Year of Legends’ marketing campaign, promoting its rich history, archi- tecture and experiences. Northern Ireland also has a wealth of beauty,


with natural wonders such as the Giant’s Cause- way, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of 40,000 basalt columns that stretch into the sea. The area was formed as a result of an ancient volcanic eruption, although legend suggests that it was built by Irish giant Finn MacCool in order to fight a foe. Much of hit television show Game of Thrones was filmed in Northern Ireland, with assorted tours available for fans of the series. The UK welcomed an estimated 36.7 million


Queen Elizabeth II legally owns 6.6 million acres of land, one-sixth of the Earth’s non-oceanic surface. She also owns all of the swans on the River Thames


tourists in 2016, contributing US$27.56 billion (GBP21.98 billion) to the economy. In terms of infrastructure, the UK government has pledged to spend US$123.6 billion (GBP98.58 billion) on a series of projects from now to 2021, includ- ing the largest rail modernisation programme since the Victorian times as well as several new initiatives at Manchester, Luton, Heathrow and Gatwick airports.


Kilchurn Castle, Scotland


Tower Bridge and Shard Bridge in London, England


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