Officials from Portugal’s Bureau of Tourism said China plays an important role as a source of tourists to the country and they will continue to gain more understanding of the particular needs of Chinese visitors and provide them with a better travel experience.

Tourism revenue from Chinese tourists to Portugal almost doubled in 2017 compared to the previous year, and the number of Chinese tourists surged to nearly 260,000 last year, a year-on-year growth of more than 40 percent, Filipe Silva, board member of the national tourism bureau, said during a press briefing in Shanghai.

Officials from the bureau were in the city together with representatives from 17 Portuguese tourism associations and companies for ITB China, an international travel fair. It was the second year that Portugal -- boasting a mild climate, superb cuisine, fine wines and hospitable people -- was an exhibitor at the fair, aiming to strengthen business relationships with the China market.

Bureau officials said Portugal received 37 prizes from the World Travel Awards, including the World’s Leading Destination, Europe’s Leading Destination and World’s Best Golf Destination.

“It was the first time a European country received the award of World’s Leading Destination and Portugal is very proud of being such a destination,” Silva said.