2024-08-15 00:03:42
The number of foreign tourists in Portugal increased in the first half of 2024. This is the best first half ever recorded.
In particular, the number of tourists who visited Portugal in the period January-June increased by 7.5%paving the way for another record year.
The National Institute of Statistics (INE) reported that more than 8.8 million foreigners stayed in hotels in Portugal during that period, adding that in June alone, almost two million visitors entered the country, a number that is also a record, up from 6.9% a year earlier.
Tourism is a critical sector of the economy
Tourism is a crucial sector of the Portuguese economy, and last year the number of foreign tourists in Portugal broke records, exceeding 18 million.
Total tourism-related consumption, at 43.7 billion euros, accounted for 16.5% of gross domestic product last year, generating about half of the 2.3% economic growth rate, according to INE data which were released earlier this month.
Using this measurement method, Portugal’s dependence on tourism is among the highest in the continental European Union and comes second after Iceland, according to INE data.
Which country were most tourists from?
In the first half of 2023, visitors from Britain accounted for the largest share of total arrivals, closely followed by the United States, which is growing as a source of tourism to the country, with more than a million visitors each. Neighboring Spaniards have the third largest share of arrivals.
INE reported that the hotel sector recorded at least 14 million visitors, including domestic travelers, with total hotel revenue up 12.3% year-on-year to 2.8 billion euros.
In a separate report, INE said that the number of travelers passing through Portuguese airports in June increased by 5.6% to 6.7 million compared to the previous year.
Sources: AMPE, Reuters