Portugal is ending 2023 on a high note, with a record-breaking year in tourism, totaling a staggering €25 billion in revenue. This marks a 37% increase from 2019, which was the previous best year for tourism in Portugal. The country also saw an 18.5% increase in revenue from 2022. Portugal welcomed 30 million guests, a 10% growth from 2019, and recorded 77 million overnight stays in 2023.
Nuno Fazenda, the Secretary of State for Tourism, Trade, and Services, has described 2023 as a structural change in Portugal’s tourism. Fazenda has expressed optimism in the continued growth of tourism in Portugal for 2024.
In August 2023 alone, Portugal welcomed 3.5 million guests who spent 10.1 million overnight stays, resulting in the highest monthly revenue ever recorded at €878.3 million. The surge in tourism is evident in the 6.4 million passengers and 20.4 thousand tonnes of freight and mail handled by national airports in October 2023.
Portugal’s recognition as a top destination in Europe also played a significant role in the influx of visitors in 2023. Passadiços do Paiva and Madeira Islands both won prestigious titles in the World Travel Awards, solidifying their positions as top tourist destinations in Europe for adventure and overall experience, respectively.
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