By: CHRIS GRAEME
NINETY-TWO per cent of foreign tourists visiting Lisbon say they would like to return to the city, according to a survey carried out for the Lisbon Tourist Board.
Forty per cent said the capital met their expectations, 28 per cent said the city was better than they had expected, while 32 per cent claimed their expectations were more than met.
What was certain was that 75 per cent of foreigners had already been to the city before and had liked it so much they decided on a return trip.
These were just some of the main conclusions of the Survey into the Degree of Satisfaction carried out in June by the Lisbon Tourist Board Observatory, Observatório do Turismo de Lisboa.
Of the three-quarters of tourists who had already visited the city, 20 per cent of them had been to Lisbon once before, 25 per cent had visited twice before and 19 per cent had visited the city three times, while between three and eight per cent of tourists had seen Lisbon four times or more.
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As to the most visited sites, these were the monuments linked to the Discoveries as well as the Castle of São Jorge.
Foreigners described the city variously as “pretty”, “historic”, “friendly”, “calm” and “cultural.”
Among other aspects cited in their positive evaluation of the city were the diverse attractions, public transport system, the climate and value for money.
These were all factors that persuaded 92 per cent of tourists into thinking about a return visit and 99 per cent of visitors to recommend the city to third parties.
When coming to Lisbon 75 per cent said it was the only destination in Portugal they were intending to visit while 20 per cent stated it was the main destination.
The average time that tourists spent in the Portuguese capital was 6.3 nights – up one night on 2007 with 90 per cent of tourists staying in hotels.
To see the city 80 per cent preferred to walk around on foot, while 60 per cent opted for using the public transport system.
Eighty per cent liked visiting monuments, 75 per cent museums, 71 per cent went shopping, 70 per cent went out for dinner, while 56 per cent headed for the beach.
Popular sites
The most popular monuments and museums were: Torre de Belém, São Jorge Castle, Jerónimos Monastery (50 per cent) and the Discoverers Monument (32 per cent). The historic quarters of Baixa, Alfama, Bairro Alto and Belém as well as the Parque das Nações continue to be the most visited parts of Lisbon.
The Greater Lisbon region was also a big draw for tourists with 99 per cent claiming places like Sintra, Cascais, Óbidos and Estoril met or exceeded their expectations.
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