Europeans head to Cape Verde

Former Portuguese prime minister Mario Soares has highlighted the growing appeal of Cape Verde among holidaymakers.

According to the ex-premier, the west African archipelago is becoming more and more popular with people from Europe.

Speaking to Inter Press Service, he said this is because it offers attractions such as hot and sunny weather all year round, along with a rich culture.

This, he stated, has helped Cape Verde to become an "enchanting" destination for people from all over Europe.

Mr Soares commented: "The archipelago is turning into a prime tourist destination."

He added that as well as its appealing climate, people can also enjoy high-quality accommodation and a friendly local population.

According to the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development, Cape Verde's economy grew by 6.6 per cent last year.

Figures cited by MacauHub show that it is expecting this rate of growth to increase to 7.6 per cent in 2008.