British Tourists Continue to Lead Portugal's Tourism Surge in 2023

Growing Tourist Activity in Portugal

Tourist activity in Portugal is witnessing remarkable growth, with overnight stays increasing by 4.1% until November. The rise is split between residents (2.5%) and non-residents (4.8%), as reported by the National Statistics Institute (INE).

In November, the tourist accommodation sector recorded 2.2 million guests and 5 million overnight stays, marking a significant increase of 14% and 9.8% respectively. This growth was particularly pronounced in various regions, including:

• Center: +24.6%
• Setúbal Peninsula: +19.3%
• North: +18.3%
• Azores: +16.4%

Resident vs. Non-Resident Stays

The increase in overnight stays by residents was substantial at 22.2%, totaling 1.7 million stays. In contrast, non-resident stays saw a more modest growth of 4.6%, reaching 3.4 million.

Top Foreign Markets

In terms of foreign markets, British tourists remain the largest group, accounting for 14.7% of the total, with a growth of 0.3% in November. Following them are:

• Germany: 12.5% (+2.1%)
• Poland: notable increase of 15.9%
• Canada: 12.4%
• Netherlands: 11.9%

This data illustrates the ongoing appeal of Portugal as a tourist destination, particularly among British travelers, solidifying their position as the main foreign market.