In the first seven months of this year, Portugal has surpassed pre-pandemic figures, achieving record-breaking levels of overnight stays and tourism revenue compared to 2019, which was already a record year for Portuguese tourism.
According to the government, the country celebrated World Tourism Day this Wednesday with extraordinary achievements in the tourism industry.
These are the best seven months ever in Portugal’s tourism history.
The latest data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) has revealed that between January and July this year, Portugal welcomed 16.8 million guests. During the same period, there were a total of 42.8 million overnight stays, marking an impressive ten per cent increase compared to the same period in 2019.
The data provided by INE also show that the income from tourists reached €3.2 billion, showing an extraordinary increase of 39 per cent compared to 2019 figures.
During July this year, the average revenue per occupied room reached an impressive €137.9, increasing by nearly ten per cent and setting a new record, surpassing the figures of August 2022 (which stood at €136).
Based on this data, the revenue generated from overnight stays in all hotel facilities significantly increased, totalling 41.8 per cent.
As Fazenda explains, these data mean there has been a full recovery of the tourism sector after the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, he said that this industry is characterised as one that demonstrates excellence” and “resilience.”
As for the January-June period, around 8.2 million foreign tourists chose to stay in Portuguese hotels. This figure represents an increase compared to a year ago when 6.3 million foreigners stayed in these accommodations. In addition, this number surpassed the 7.4 million recorded in the first six months of 2019, which was a record year for tourism before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global travel in 2020.
INE also noted that tourism plays a crucial role in Portugal’s economy, accounting for nearly 15 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Regarding visitor demographics during the first half, most arrivals were from British tourists, numbering over one million visitors. This group was closely followed by visitors from the Spanish and American markets, underscoring the diversity of Portugal’s international tourism.
Since Portugal has continuously experienced a significant influx of arrivals in recent months, it was chosen as one of the most popular destinations for Portuguese residents and Europeans. The country’s appeal as a travel destination has remained strong, attracting visitors from both domestic and international backgrounds.
