Portugal, one of the top European destinations, is drawing an increasing number of Chinese visitors for its exquisite mix of modern life, history, cultural treasures and natural landscapes. [Photo provided to China Daily]

And compared with before, Chinese travelers now pay more attention to the quality of the travel product and the travel experience, the tourism authority reports.

In addition, Chinese travelers now spend more on accommodation, dining and entertainment, the authority says.

Meanwhile, Portugal has come up with a number of measures to cater to the needs of Chinese visitors.

A direct flight connecting Hangzhou, Beijing and the country's capital Lisbon was launched in July. The flight is run by Beijing Capital Airlines, and is the first of its kind to connect China and Portugal. It now runs three times a week.

The flight has been 85 percent full since its launch, according to Godinho.

"There are talks about increasing the number of weekly flights," she says.

Separately, first-hand travel information is offered on the tourism authority's social media accounts, including WeChat and Weibo. And interactive activities have also been held online to enable better understanding of the country.

Portugal is a relatively small country and therefore very easy to travel around. One can have breakfast in Lisbon, and travel three hours to Porto, one of the top European destinations in the north for lunch.

Lisbon features an exquisite mix of modern life, history and cultural treasures, while Porto and Norte feature Port wines and views of the Douro River.

The center of the country is known for its charming old towns and traditional cuisine.

Algarve resembles a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts with golden sand beaches, golf and water sports, while the Azores islands are well known for their lush green volcanoes with lakes and the ocean.

yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 09/18/2017 page22)