Portugal Sees Record-Breaking Surge in Tourism

Portugal experienced a 7.5% rise in foreign tourists in the first half of the year, with over 8.8 million international visitors. Tourism significantly contributed to the economy, making up 16.5% of GDP. Visitors from Britain and the United States were the largest groups, with total hotel revenues reaching 2.8 billion euros.

Portugal has witnessed a remarkable 7.5% increase in foreign tourists between January and June, setting a new record for the first half of the year, according to official data released on Wednesday.

The National Statistics Institute (INE) reported that over 8.8 million foreigners stayed in Portuguese hotels during this period. In June alone, nearly 2 million guests entered the country, marking another record with a 6.9% rise from last year.

Tourism has emerged as a crucial driver of Portugal's economy, with foreign tourism exceeding 18 million guests last year. All tourism-related consumption reached 43.7 billion euros, contributing to 16.5% of the GDP and nearly half of the 2.3% economic growth. INE data indicated that Portugal's reliance on tourism was one of the highest in the EU after Iceland.

In the first half of 2023, British visitors represented the largest share of arrivals, followed closely by Americans. Neighboring Spaniards accounted for the third-largest share. The hotel sector accommodated over 14 million guests, including locals, leading to a 12.3% year-on-year increase in total hotel revenues to 2.8 billion euros. Additionally, the number of passengers through Portuguese airports in June rose by 5.6% to 6.7 million compared to the previous year.

(With inputs from agencies.)