Tag: Mercan Asia

Panama’s economy is projected to grow close to 5% in 2026, according to Economy and Finance Minister Felipe Chapman, a figure presented during APEDE’s Annual Economic Forum. On the surface, it positions Panama as one of the stronger performers in Latin America, supported by logistics, services, and investment activity tied to its role as a […]

De León explained that this growth is the result of coordinated efforts between the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) and PROMTUR Panama, focused on attracting new attention to the country. Tourism in Panama is not only growing in numbers; it is also full of dynamism, movement, and opportunities. This was made clear by the administrator of […]

This morning, I found myself casually looking at travel destinations. Nothing serious — just scrolling, comparing, imagining. It always feels like a simple choice. But if you stop for a second, where people choose to go is rarely just about preference. Lately, more travelers — especially from the United States and Canada — have been […]

As housing costs continue to rise in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve, many expats and remote workers are looking to smaller inland cities where rent and daily living costs remain significantly lower. Portugal is still considered one of the more affordable countries in Western Europe, but where you live makes a big difference to how […]

On 1 April, the Portuguese Parliament approved a revised amendment to the Nationality Law, with 151 votes in favour and 65 against, clearing the required threshold for an organic law. The proposal has now been sent to the President of the Republic, António José Seguro, who will decide whether to promulgate it, veto it, or […]

The economic impact of the cruise industry in Greece reached record levels in 2024, confirming its role as a pillar of the national economy. According to the Cruise Lines International Association’s (CLIA) latest Economic Impact Report for the year 2024, conducted by Oxford Economics, the industry generated €3.1 billion in total economic output and contributed […]

The war in the Middle East is raging and air fares are rising under the pressure of increased fuel costs, while Greece is on the threshold of the tourist season. So far, there have been no mass cancellations or a substantial reduction in scheduled seats on incoming flights to Greece. However, the first signs of […]

According to Diário de Notícias, the validity of renewal certificates issued by AIMA will be extended. The certificates were due to expire on 15 April, but given their approaching expiration and the fact that not all pending cases have been resolved, the agency will extend their validity. The certificate refers to documents that expired on […]

Data from the Bank of Portugal (BdP) shows that tourism revenue in Portugal grew by 3% in January 2026. In the first month of the year, revenue from tourism activity totalled €1,596.42 million, an increase of 3% compared to the same month last year, according to data released this Friday, 20 March, by the Bank […]

Sometimes, if we only look at the big picture of the European hotel market as a whole slowly growing, it is easy to overlook a more specific question: where exactly is capital flowing, and why is it going there? When we shift the perspective from the broader European landscape down to the city level, a […]

For decades, Port of Piraeus, located in the city of Piraeus within the Athens metropolitan area, has functioned as the primary maritime gateway to Athens. As the 4th largest port in Europe and the largest in the Eastern Mediterranean, its role has long been clear — a transit hub connecting mainland Greece to the islands […]

Athens International Airport (AIA) recorded punctuality levels above the European average in February 2026, according to the latest Airport Performance Network (APN) report released by ACI Europe. The Greek airport achieved an arrival punctuality rate of 82.7 percent and a departure punctuality rate of 82.5 percent, placing it among the top performers in the category […]

Portugal’s real estate market experienced a significant boom in 2025. According to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), the housing price index rose by 17.6% year-on-year, up 8.5 percentage points compared to 2024, marking the highest increase on record. Existing homes saw a sharper rise of 18.9%, outperforming new homes, which increased by 14.2%, […]

The booking rate in hotels in Northern Portugal is around 80% for Easter, said the president of Turismo do Porto e Norte. The official believes that the war in the Middle East may redirect tourists to Portugal. Bookings in hotels in the region are “good” for the Easter season and “in line with 2025,” meaning […]

Last year was another strong one for the housing market, as the average annual increase was 7.8% compared to 9.1% in 2024, according to the Bank of Greece’s sales price indices. An important feature of the previous year is the impact that the “My Home II” program seems to have had on the prices of […]