Portugal is set to build a new airport in its capital Lisbon as the country’s tourism industry is expected to gradually recover to pre-pandemic levels, said Prime Minister Antonio Costa.

At the sixth Portuguese Tourism Summit to mark World Tourism Day, Mr Costa said the decision to formally launch the new Lisbon airport project would be approved on Thursday.

He said it was a “decision for the good of the whole country,” representing “a unique and irreversible window of opportunity.”

Francisco Calheiros, President of the Confederation of Tourism of Portugal, said the new airport was an “urgent issue” and its delay had caused at least $6.75 billion in losses.

In his speech at the summit, Mr Calheiros said tourism remained the engine of the Portuguese economy and asked the government for more economic and tax support.

He said Portugal’s tourism industry posted good results this summer and was leading to a total recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The summit was also attended by Portuguese ministers and secretaries of state.

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation had marked World Tourism Day on September 27 since 1980.

(Xinhua/NAN)