The region registered 7.9 million overnight stays in 2018, a 5% increase compared to the previous year, and 4.3 million guests, an increase of 4.63%.

According to the TPNP, the northern region saw the biggest growth and the figures show the country "is on the right track."

He told Lusa the World Tourism Organisation had forecast that these figures would be maintained until 2030.

Asked about whether Brexit was a reason of concern for TPNP, Pedro Martins said it wasn't, pointing out that the United Kingdom was the region's fifth largest source of tourists and that Spain was at the top of the list.

Pedro Martins said the northern region had seen big growth in the Spanish market, as well as in the American and Brazilian markets. The French market continues to be the second best and could continue to grow, he added.

The northern region ended 2018 with global income amounting to €482.7 million (€52.4 million more, with revenue per available room, or RevPAR, of €46, an increase of 8.75%.

Pedro Martins said these figures showed that tourism activity was one of the levers of the economy and had a "big growth margin."