Debt-heavy Portugal reaps windfall from surge in tourism

FILE - In this May 25, 2016 file photo, tourists have dinner at restaurant tables set outside with a view of Saint George castle in the background, in Lisbon. Portugal's fragile economy is getting a tonic from tourism this year, with revenue up by more than 10 percent through October including a 20 percent jump in visitors from the United States. Tourism minister Ana Mendes Godinho says the sector brought in some 11 billion euros ($11.5 billion) in the first 10 months of 2016 — about 1 billion euros more than the same period last year. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) (The Associated Press)

LISBON, Portugal – Portugal's fragile economy is getting a tonic from tourism this year, with revenue up by more than 10 percent through October including a 20 percent jump in visitors from the United States.

Tourism minister Ana Mendes Godinho says the sector brought in some 11 billion euros ($11.5 billion) in the first 10 months of 2016 — about 1 billion euros more than the same period last year.

Mendes Godinho said in a statement Wednesday that the number of French visitors increased by almost 18 percent. Only the U.S. posted a bigger increase.

Portugal's mid-Atlantic Azores Islands posted the strongest growth, with a 30 percent increase.

The government hopes Portugal's economy will grow 1.2 percent this year. Government debt is 133 percent of GDP, one of the European Union's highest.