LISBON, Feb 14 (Reuters) - The number of foreign tourists visiting Portugal hit a record high last year, but hotels took less money as the economic crisis forced them to cut prices to attract custom, data showed on Thursday.

Foreign arrivals rose 54 percent to 7.7 million, the National Statistics Institute figures showed, while hotel revenues slipped just over 2 percent to 1.86 billion euros ($2.5 billion) - within touching distance of the record of 1.96 billion euros set in 2008.

Overall revenues from tourism account for around 10 percent of Portugal's gross domestic product.

Portugal is mired in its worst recession since the 1970s, with the country's economic growth prospects damaged by tough austerity measures the government has had to enforce under its 78 billion euro EU/IMF bailout.

GDP shrank 3.2 percent last year and is expected to contract at least another 1 percent this year.

($1 = 0.7442 euros)

(Reporting By Andrei Khalip; Editing by John Stonestreet) Keywords: PORTUGAL TOURISM/

(andrei.khalip@thomsonreuters.com)(351)(213-509-209)(Reuters Messaging: andrei.khalip.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)

COPYRIGHT

Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. All rights reserved.

The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.