Portugal records first half of year tourist arrivals
Portugal reports an unprecedented tourism boom in the first half of the year. The number of foreign visitors increased by 7.5 percent compared to the same period last year, reaching over 8.8 million, according to the statistics office in Lisbon. In June alone, nearly two million guests arrived in the country - also a record.
Tourism is one of the main driving forces of the Portuguese economy. Last year, foreign tourism reached a record high of over 18 million guests. Tourism-related consumption, amounting to 43.7 billion euros, accounted for around 16.5 percent of the gross domestic product in 2023, contributing to about half of the 2.3 percent economic growth. According to these figures, Portugal's dependence on tourism is the second highest in Europe, after Iceland.
Just a few days ago, Spain reported a 13 percent increase in the number of foreign guests, reaching 42.5 million. These numbers suggest that 2024 could be another record year for Spain, likely surpassing last year's record of 85 million tourists. Spain is the second most visited country in the world, after France.
The surge in Portugal's tourism has attracted an influx of guests, with last year seeing over 18 million visitors. With this year's record-breaking June, where nearly two million guests arrived, it's expected that Portugal might also set a new record in total guests by the end of 2024.
