Lisbon, Portugal, 16 Nov – Portugal’s tourism revenue is expected to reach some 7 billion euros this year, a rise of 8.1 percent against 2005, Portugal’s secretary of state for tourism, Bernardo Trindade said Wednesday in Lisbon.

Government forecasts point to revenues of 6.89 billion euros at the end of the year, while expenditure is expected to rise 9.6 percent, to just short of 3 billion euros, also due to the “contribution of VAT,” after the increase decided by the government, Trindade said.

Revenue minus expenditure provides a surplus of 4.18 billion euros from tourism, or 7.2 percent more than the figure obtained in 2005. (macauhub)