More than 30.8 million arrivals were recorded at accommodation establishments in Portugal in 2023. This figure surpassed the pre-pandemic values of 2019 and was the highest ever recorded. Tourism development in Portugal The tourism industry makes a significant contribution to Portugal’s economy. As the country came out of recession and tourism began to increase, the Portuguese government launched a ten-year plan to boost the number of overnight stays by 2027. Although figures showed a positive trend in both international and domestic tourism annually, there were still challenges that needed to be surpassed. For instance, arrivals from the United Kingdom, Portugal’s main travel market before Brexit, slowed down due to this political event, giving rise to Spain as the main tourist partner of Portugal. Portugal’s popularity From a tourism perspective, Portugal benefits from both urban and resort destinations. Tourism demand is highest in the city destinations of Lisbon and Porto, plus coastal destinations such as the Algarve and the island of Madeira. However, occupancy rates in Lisbon and Porto did not rank among the leading ten for city destinations in Europe as of 2022.

In 2023, tourists, either national or international, spent approximately 77.2 million nights in accommodation establishments in Portugal. The majority of tourists, or almost 65.2 million, stayed in the mainland territory, while the Azores were the region with the fewest number of overnight stays, at 2.7 million.

Portugal PT: International Tourism: Number of Arrivals data was reported at 11,223,000.000 Person in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 9,957,000.000 Person for 2015. Portugal PT: International Tourism: Number of Arrivals data is updated yearly, averaging 6,059,000.000 Person from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2016, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11,223,000.000 Person in 2016 and a record low of 4,567,000.000 Person in 1996. Portugal PT: International Tourism: Number of Arrivals data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Portugal – Table PT.World Bank.WDI: Tourism Statistics. International inbound tourists (overnight visitors) are the number of tourists who travel to a country other than that in which they have their usual residence, but outside their usual environment, for a period not exceeding 12 months and whose main purpose in visiting is other than an activity remunerated from within the country visited. When data on number of tourists are not available, the number of visitors, which includes tourists, same-day visitors, cruise passengers, and crew members, is shown instead. Sources and collection methods for arrivals differ across countries. In some cases data are from border statistics (police, immigration, and the like) and supplemented by border surveys. In other cases data are from tourism accommodation establishments. For some countries number of arrivals is limited to arrivals by air and for others to arrivals staying in hotels. Some countries include arrivals of nationals residing abroad while others do not. Caution should thus be used in comparing arrivals across countries. The data on inbound tourists refer to the number of arrivals, not to the number of people traveling. Thus a person who makes several trips to a country during a given period is counted each time as a new arrival.; ; World Tourism Organization, Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files.; Gap-filled total;

In 2023, international tourists in Portugal spent approximately 53.9 million nights at accommodation establishments. 2021 registered an increase of 53 percent of overnight stays by inbound visitors over the previous year. In 2020, the number of overnight stays by foreign visitors in the European country had dropped to only 12.2 million due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Portugal tourist spending for 2020 was 10.52 billion US dollars, a 57.21% decline from 2019.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Portugal tourist spending for 2019 was <strong>24.59 billion US dollars</strong>, a <strong>0.93% increase</strong> from 2018.</li>
<li>Portugal tourist spending for 2018 was <strong>24.37 billion US dollars</strong>, a <strong>12.88% increase</strong> from 2017.</li>
<li>Portugal tourist spending for 2017 was <strong>21.59 billion US dollars</strong>, a <strong>24.44% increase</strong> from 2016.</li>
</ul>International tourism receipts are expenditures by international inbound visitors, including payments to national carriers for international transport. These receipts include any other prepayment made for goods or services received in the destination country. They also may include receipts from same-day visitors, except when these are important enough to justify separate classification. For some countries they do not include receipts for passenger transport items. Data are in current U.S. dollars.

Portugal PT: International Tourism: Receipts: for Travel Items data was reported at 14.054 USD bn in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 12.692 USD bn for 2015. Portugal PT: International Tourism: Receipts: for Travel Items data is updated yearly, averaging 8.046 USD bn from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2016, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.054 USD bn in 2016 and a record low of 4.614 USD bn in 1997. Portugal PT: International Tourism: Receipts: for Travel Items data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Portugal – Table PT.World Bank.WDI: Tourism Statistics. International tourism receipts for travel items are expenditures by international inbound visitors in the reporting economy. The goods and services are purchased by, or on behalf of, the traveler or provided, without a quid pro quo, for the traveler to use or give away. These receipts should include any other prepayment made for goods or services received in the destination country. They also may include receipts from same-day visitors, except in cases where these are so important as to justify a separate classification. Excluded is the international carriage of travelers, which is covered in passenger travel items. Data are in current U.S. dollars.; ; World Tourism Organization, Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files.; Gap-filled total;

Portugal PT: International Tourism: Receipts data was reported at 17.185 USD bn in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 15.823 USD bn for 2015. Portugal PT: International Tourism: Receipts data is updated yearly, averaging 9.762 USD bn from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2016, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.718 USD bn in 2014 and a record low of 5.415 USD bn in 1997. Portugal PT: International Tourism: Receipts data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Portugal – Table PT.World Bank.WDI: Tourism Statistics. International tourism receipts are expenditures by international inbound visitors, including payments to national carriers for international transport. These receipts include any other prepayment made for goods or services received in the destination country. They also may include receipts from same-day visitors, except when these are important enough to justify separate classification. For some countries they do not include receipts for passenger transport items. Data are in current U.S. dollars.; ; World Tourism Organization, Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files.; Gap-filled total;

In 2023, leisure, recreation, and vacation trips accounted for the highest number of journeys abroad, namely 2.2 million. Visiting friends and family followed, with 517,400 trips.

Tourist Arrivals in Portugal increased to 2093116 Persons in May from 1797637 Persons in April of 2025. This dataset provides - Portugal Tourist Arrivals- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

After a steep decline in the number of international visitors arriving to Portugal during the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), 2022 recorded similar values to the pre-pandemic times. Lisbon was the most visited Portuguese region by international travelers in the same year, having received a total of *** million overnight visitors. In 2023, the number of international tourists in the country was even higher. Lisbon received almost *** million foreign guests. The Algarve – the Southern-most region in the European country – ranked second, with *** million tourists from other nations. Spanish visitors dominated, but the Algarve was mainly for the British International tourists in Portugal mostly originated from European countries. The United Kingdom recorded the highest number of travelers visiting Portugal in 2024, reaching the benchmark of almost *** million. Spain accounted for over **** million visitors to Portugal, ******* of whom selecting the Algarve as destination. This southern region of the country received, in 2024, *** million British tourists, who were only surpassed in number by Portuguese visitors. Travel and tourism had an undeniable economic impact The great influx of tourists in Portugal had a considerable economic impact in the country. As of 2024, the travel and tourism sector contributed with **** billion U. S. dollars to the gross domestic product of Portugal, which surpasses 2019 values. In terms of sales revenue, the sector presents a rising tendency. The year 2019 registered ** billion euros in sales revenue, which were topped in 2023. During this year, almost ** billion euros were generated in sales of tourism services.

Key information about Portugal Tourism Revenue

• Portugal's Tourism Revenue reached 545 USD mn in Apr 2023, compared with 362 USD mn in the previous month
• Portugal's Tourism Revenue data is updated monthly, available from Jul 2006 to Apr 2023
• The data reached an all-time high of 804 USD mn in Aug 2022 and a record low of 5 USD mn in Apr 2020

CEIC converts monthly Tourism Revenue into USD. Statistics Portugal provides Tourism Revenue in EUR. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Starting January 2013, Tourism Revenue includes local accommodation services like guests houses, apartments and lodging establishments which do not officially classify as tourism facilities.

Portugal PT: International Tourism: Expenditures data was reported at 4.908 USD bn in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 4.782 USD bn for 2015. Portugal PT: International Tourism: Expenditures data is updated yearly, averaging 3.944 USD bn from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2016, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.380 USD bn in 2014 and a record low of 2.491 USD bn in 1997. Portugal PT: International Tourism: Expenditures data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Portugal – Table PT.World Bank.WDI: Tourism Statistics. International tourism expenditures are expenditures of international outbound visitors in other countries, including payments to foreign carriers for international transport. These expenditures may include those by residents traveling abroad as same-day visitors, except in cases where these are important enough to justify separate classification. For some countries they do not include expenditures for passenger transport items. Data are in current U.S. dollars.; ; World Tourism Organization, Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files.; Gap-filled total;

Portugal’s touristic influx has led foreign nationals into the country, particularly from European nations. International tourists visiting Portugal, in 2024, mostly originated from the United Kingdom, numbering almost *** million. In second place, Spain registered over **** million visitors to Portugal, while the United States recorded more than **** million travelers. There were regional preferences for international tourists Portugal presented regional differences when it came to the countries of origin of international visitors. In the Algarve, the country’s third most visited region by foreigners, British, German, and Irish nationals were the biggest groups of foreign tourists. The United Kingdom was accountable for over *** million visitors in the region during 2024. In the autonomous region of Madeira, German travelers dominated, with *** thousand overnight visitors. British, French, and Polish nationals followed in the archipelago. The travel and tourism sector showed signs of revival after the coronavirus pandemic Overnight stays by international tourists in Portugal were numbered at **** million in 2022, which represented a large recovery after the years of impaired tourism due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). This number surpassed pre-pandemic values in 2024. However, the inbound expenditure of foreign tourists was, in 2022, the highest ever. In Portugal, non-national visitors spent over ** million euros during that year, which meant a ** percent increase compared to 2019.

Portugal: Tourist arrivals: The latest value from 2020 is 4208 thousand tourists, a decline from 17283 thousand tourists in 2019. In comparison, the world average is 4935 thousand tourists, based on data from 123 countries. Historically, the average for Portugal from 1995 to 2020 is 10464 thousand tourists. The minimum value, 4208 thousand tourists, was reached in 2020 while the maximum of 17283 thousand tourists was recorded in 2019.

Spain was the leading source market for inbound tourism in Portugal, accounting for roughly *** million tourist arrivals in 2023. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom outranked France for second place, with almost **** million visitor arrivals in Portugal in 2023.

Key information about Portugal Tourism Revenue Growth

• Portugal Tourism Revenue grew 13.8 % YoY in Jan 2025, compared with an increase of 9.3 % YoY in the previous month
• Portugal Tourism Revenue Growth rate data is updated monthly, available from Jul 2007 to Jan 2025
• The data reached an all-time high of 1,197.7 % in May 2021 and a record low of -98.7 % in Apr 2020

CEIC calculates Tourism Revenue Growth from monthly Tourism Revenue. Statistics Portugal provides Tourism Revenue in EUR. Starting January 2014, Tourism Revenue Growth includes local accommodation services like guests houses, apartments and lodging establishments which do not officially classify as tourism facilities.

Portugal - Nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments in partnership with All countries of the world was 84886830.00 in December of 2023, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Portugal - Nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments in partnership with All countries of the world - last updated from the EUROSTAT on July of 2025. Historically, Portugal - Nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments in partnership with All countries of the world reached a record high of 84886830.00 in December of 2023 and a record low of 30157800.00 in December of 2020.

Portugal PT: International Tourism: Expenditures: for Passenger Transport Items data was reported at 647.000 USD mn in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 777.000 USD mn for 2015. Portugal PT: International Tourism: Expenditures: for Passenger Transport Items data is updated yearly, averaging 669.500 USD mn from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2016, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 973.000 USD mn in 2014 and a record low of 409.000 USD mn in 1996. Portugal PT: International Tourism: Expenditures: for Passenger Transport Items data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Portugal – Table PT.World Bank.WDI: Tourism Statistics. International tourism expenditures for passenger transport items are expenditures of international outbound visitors in other countries for all services provided during international transportation by nonresident carriers. Also included are passenger services performed within an economy by nonresident carriers. Excluded are passenger services provided to nonresidents by resident carriers within the resident economies; these are included in travel items. In addition to the services covered by passenger fares--including fares that are a part of package tours but excluding cruise fares, which are included in travel--passenger services include such items as charges for excess baggage, vehicles, or other personal accompanying effects and expenditures for food, drink, or other items for which passengers make expenditures while on board carriers. Data are in current U.S. dollars.; ; World Tourism Organization, Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files.; Gap-filled total;

International tourism, receipts (current US$) in Portugal was reported at 10522000000 USD in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Portugal - International tourism, receipts - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Portugal: Percent of world tourist arrivals: The latest value from 2020 is 0.69 percent, a decline from 0.78 percent in 2019. In comparison, the world average is 0.81 percent, based on data from 123 countries. Historically, the average for Portugal from 1995 to 2020 is 0.79 percent. The minimum value, 0.42 percent, was reached in 2009 while the maximum of 1.25 percent was recorded in 1998.