TOURISM BREAKING ALL RECORDS

Tourism in Portugal reached record levels last year and is predicted to grow even further this year.

Hotels and other types of tourist accommodation welcomed 31.6 million guests in 2024, a 3.2% increase from 2023. Overnight stays totalled 80.3 million, up 4.0%. International visitors accounted for 70.3% of all tourists, according to figures compiled by the National Statistics Institute 

The Algarve, Portugal’s main tourist destination, with its world-renowned beaches and golf courses, attracted an unprecedented 5.2 million visitors. Faro airport was busier than ever, as were the region's golf courses, on which 1.46 million rounds were played, up 5% from the previous year. 

Beyond mainland Portugal, a remarkable expansion of the tourist industry is taking place in the Portuguese autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira. The Azores archipelago enjoyed a record-breaking year in 2024, with 2.9 million overnight stays between January and November, an annual growth of 9.5%, the highest in Portugal overall. April to June remains the best period for the choice activity of whale and dolphin watching. 

Madeira has once again won the accolade of being Europe’s leading island destination. A growth of 8.8% in inbound international visits is predicted for this year and 8.9% next year. While most visitors are from mainland Portugal, hundreds of thousands arrived from abroad.

Tourism generated €58 billion in revenue for Portugal in 2024 and €33.8 billion in 2023. The latter represented 12.7% of the country’s GDP The equivalent was 12.1% in 2022 but just 7.8% in 2021.

The largest group of international visitors came from the UK, accounting for around 20% of total arrivals. Germans ranked a distant second, followed by visitors from the United States. Tourism from Poland and Canada is on the rise. However, there has been a significant drop in the number of Spanish holidaymakers.  Smaller drops were also recorded among tourists from France and Brazil. 

The outlook for growth this year is 9%, according to the Secretary of State for Tourism. While welcoming continued growth, he warned of associated challenges and risks, including the need for a more skilled workforce, advancing the digital transition of companies, and the training of immigrants. Increased tourism will also place greater pressure on resources, particularly water supplies. 

Tourism in Portugal reached record levels last year and is predicted to grow even further this year.

Hotels and other types of tourist accommodation welcomed 31.6 million guests in 2024, a 3.2% increase from 2023. Overnight stays totalled 80.3 million, up 4.0%. International visitors accounted for 70.3% of all tourists, according to figures compiled by the National Statistics Institute.

The Algarve, Portugal’s main tourist destination, with its world-renowned beaches and golf courses, attracted an unprecedented 5.2 million visitors. Faro airport was busier than ever, as were the region's golf courses, on which 1.46 million rounds were played, up 5% from the previous year. 

Beyond mainland Portugal, a remarkable expansion of the tourist industry is taking place in the Portuguese autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira. The Azores archipelago enjoyed a record-breaking year in 2024, with 2.9 million overnight stays between January and November, an annual growth of 9.5%, the highest in Portugal overall. April to June remains the best period for the choice activity of whale and dolphin watching. 

Madeira has once again won the accolade of being Europe’s leading island destination. A growth of 8.8% in inbound international visits is predicted for this year and 8.9% next year. While most visitors are from mainland Portugal, hundreds of thousands arrived from abroad.

Tourism generated €58 billion in revenue for Portugal in 2024 and €33.8 billion in 2023. The latter represented 12.7% of the country’s GDP The equivalent was 12.1% in 2022 but just 7.8% in 2021. 

The largest group of international visitors came from the UK, accounting for around 20% of total arrivals. Germans ranked a distant second, followed by visitors from the United States. Tourism from Poland and Canada is on the rise. However, there has been a significant drop in the number of Spanish holidaymakers.  Smaller drops were also recorded among tourists from France and Brazil. 

The outlook for growth this year is 9%, according to the Secretary of State for Tourism. While welcoming continued growth, he warned of associated challenges and risks, including the need for a more skilled workforce, advancing the digital transition of companies, and the training of immigrants. Increased tourism will also place greater pressure on resources, particularly water supplies.