The number of Mainland visitors to Portugal increased by 19 percent year-on-year to 183,000 people last year, Público reports.

The Portuguese newspaper quotes data provided by Turismo de Portugal, ahead of a visit to China by Portuguese Secretary of State for Tourism, Ana Mendes Godinho. The visit will start on March 24.

Mainland arrivals have risen significantly since 2013, when just 76,000 tourists visited.

Next Monday, a delegation from Turismo de Portugal will start a roadshow in five Mainland cities to promote the European nation as a touristic destination, the report says.

The delegation includes representatives from 13 companies.

Earlier this week, the Portuguese government presented its tourism strategy for the year. That document identified the Mainland as one of the markets in which to invest, Público reports.