In a context of instability in the Middle East, security has ceased to be a mere assumption and has become the central criterion for travellers’ decisions.

As Portugal is seen as a "safe haven" and a predictable destination, it emerges as the natural alternative for tourists who previously chose destinations such as Egypt, attracting around 300,000 new guests and generating 2.4 million additional overnight stays.

To convert this potential into reality, the report points to the need for clear solutions that prioritise sustainability and decentralisation, starting with strengthening air connectivity through new direct connections and enhancing Porto as a strategic hub, which would help alleviate pressure on already saturated infrastructure.

Simultaneously, the success of this strategy depends on the ability to promote territorial decentralisation, diverting the flow from Lisbon and the Algarve to the interior and the central region, ensuring that growth does not deplete critical resources such as water and energy. This solid positioning should also strengthen local tourism, as markets such as Spain and France increasingly value Portugal's excellent quality-price ratio and social stability amid international volatility.

According to Jorge Costa, president of IPDT, this scenario demands a proactive, anticipatory approach, emphasising that "the destinations that will stand out will not only be the most desired, but also the most reliable," elevating security to an explicit competitive asset.

However, IPDT issues an important warning: the greatest risk for the sector is not the lack of demand, but rather the potential inability to manage this influx in a balanced way.

Portugal's strategic focus should therefore remain on attracting higher-income segments and on intelligent resource management, consolidating the country as a destination of absolute trust in a constantly changing world.