Tourism and economic development in Portugal throughout the 20th century. Theories and achievements

Abstract

In the early 20th century, tourism was already considered by some sectors of Portuguese society as an activity that could make an important contribution to the country’s economic development, as evidenced by the foundation of the Sociedade Propaganda de Portugal, in 1906, and the objectives behind its creation. Some individuals involved in this society even considered that Portugal could be one of the pioneering countries in tourism. However, it was only later that the State became aware of the benefits of tourism for the development of the Portuguese economy, and considered it a relevant sector of economic activity.

From the 1910s until the middle of the century, there was a growing institutionalisation of the sector, as well as the definition of correlative economic policies. However, it was only after the Second World War, and in particular from the sixties of the 20th century, that the flow of tourists assumed greater importance in Portugal and that there was a growing weight of tourism in the country’s economy.