Markets
Portugal

Market Characterization for Portugal

In 2024, tourist trips by residents (in the country and abroad) reached 22.9 million, a decrease of 3.2% compared to 2023, and a decrease of 4.7% compared to 2022. The majority travel for leisure, recreation or vacations (share: 50.9%), followed by visits to family and friends (37.7%).

Domestic trips fell by 4.7% to 19.5 million (85.0% of the total, 86.4% in 2023). In national trips, trips for leisure, recreation or vacations accounted for 47.5% of all trips made by residents (+0.2 p.p. compared to the previous year), while visits to family or friends accounted for 41.6% of the total (-0.2 p.p.).

In the distribution of trips, the Centro region continues to stand out as the main destination, with 5.8 million trips (29.9%; +0.1 p.p.), although with a decrease of -4.5% in value compared to 2023. In this destination region, trips to visit family or friends predominated, accounting for 50.6% of the total (+4.0 p.p.), followed by trips for leisure, recreation or vacations" (39.6%, -3.5 p.p.). The Norte remains the 2nd most popular national destination for residents in 2024, accounting for 25.0% of all domestic trips (+1.3 p.p.), with a total of 4.9 million trips (+0.4% compared to 2023). Also in this region, visiting family or friends was the main reason for residents traveling to the north of the country (45.6%, -3.8 p.p. compared to 2023). In 2024, trips for leisure, recreation or vacation had an approximate relative weight in this region: 44.1% (+4.3 p.p.).

In terms of average stay, the Algarve (6.8 days; 6.8 days in 2023) recorded the longest stay, Madeira (4.9 days; 4.2 days in 2023), the Açores (3.6 days; 5.2 days in 2023), the Alentejo (3.3 days; 3.4 days in 2023), Centro (3.2 days; 3.3 days in 2023), the Norte (2.8 days; 3.0 days in 2023) and Lisboa (2.7 days; 3.0 days in 2024).

As usual, the highest concentration of trips by residents occurred in the 3rd quarter of 2024, when 35.9% of annual trips were concentrated (33.9% in 2023). For domestic trips, residents spent an average of €176.7 per tourist/trip, 7.5% more than in 2023.

Market Profile

Change 25/24
10.8 M Population
1.0 %
48841.4 USD GDP per Capita
3.8 %
2 % Inflation Rate
-0.2 pp
0 Savings Rate
0.0 %

Portugal will have 10.7 million inhabitants in 2024 and will be the 49th largest economy in the world and 15th in Europe.

In terms of GDP per capita, the country was ranked 44th in the world and 19th in the EU.

According to the World Tourism Organization, in 2024 Portugal was the 16th market receiving tourists and 9th in Europe (29 million) and the 18th market in the world (7th in Europe) in terms of tourism receipts (€27.7 million).

In The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index 2024 (WEF), Portugal ranks 12th in the world out of 119 countries (7th in Europe).

Trips abroad

Trips abroad continued to gain in importance in 2024: 15.0% (+ 1.3 p.p. above 2023 and + 3.2 p.p. compared to 2022), totaling 3.4 million trips in 2024, reflecting an increase of 6.2% compared to 2023.

In 2024, Spain ranks 1st with 6,983.4 thousand overnight stays (an increase of 7.9% compared to 2023) corresponding to a share of 29.7% (+0.4 p.p. compared to the previous year).

France and Italy followed with 2,384.0 thousand overnight stays (an increase of 14.4% compared to 2023) and 1,527.5 thousand overnight stays (an increase of 19.2%), with shares of external demand of 10.2% and 6.5% respectively, both markets with the same gain in share (+0.7 p.p. compared to 2023).

France was the country with the longest average stay (7.4 days), followed by Italy (7.2 days), Germany (5.7 days), the United Kingdom and Spain (5.0 days).

Around 63.4% of overnight stays spent abroad by national residents were in European Union countries (-0.1 p.p. p.p. compared to 2023), in turn countries in the Americas (12.7%), African countries (10.8%), other European countries (7.3%) and countries in Asia and Oceania (5.7%).

When traveling abroad, the average amount spent per tourist/trip grew by 14.6% in 2024, reaching 843.8 euros.