| Destination: PORTUGAL | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Things To Know The Land Portuguese Empire The People Society and Language Changing Portugal Prince Henry the Navigator |
Changing Portugal
Since the watershed year of 1986, huge changes have occurred in Portugal. From being one of the poorest nations in Europe,
the country now has one of the highest economic growth rates, while unemployment has plummeted. Despite a recession in the
early 1990s, things still look good for the country as the economy continues to expand. But this has been achieved at the
cost of a widening gap between the rich and poor, noticeable wherever you travel. Education levels are low, with an embarrassing
percentage of the population having few if any literacy skills. Agriculture still lags far behind the rest of Europe, and
a high proportion of national earnings comes from money earned overseas or spent by tourists within Portugal.
For visitors, the blend of old and new is alluring and adds an extra dimension to the travel experience. Recent investment
has improved the infrastructure to the visitor's benefit, while the uneven wealth distribution means that a rustic way of
life is still evident throughout the country.
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
