Occupancy rates in the northern region of Portugal grew by 17 percent during the first few months of this year, the only region in Portugal to experience a rise in tourism.

The 17 percent rise in the number of tourists in Northern Portugal represents 32,000 more stay-overs, in comparison to the same period of 2009.

Melchior Moreira, President of the Oporto and Northern Tourism Bureau, told Lusa News Agency “we were the only region in the country where occupation rates consistently grew, from May to December 2009”.

He attributed this growth mainly to the number of flights operating from Oporto’s Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport.

Mr. Moreira also added that a project would soon be implemented to allow the number of flights that the airport caters for to increase, so that tourists could come from more international destinations.

“We want to make sure that the north stops being a location of seasonal tourism”, he said.

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