Portuguese Tourism Revenues Climb to €3 Billion in First Half of 2025
The Portuguese tourism sector generated revenues of three billion euros in the first six months of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 7.8%. According to data published this Thursday by the Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE), this growth was supported by a 3.6% rise in the number of guests, which totaled 14.9 million, and a 2.4% increase in overnight stays, reaching 36.4 million across all national tourist accommodations.
The report highlights a notable trend in the composition of the market. Overnight stays by residents experienced the most significant growth in the first half of the year, increasing by 6% to a total of 10.7 million. In contrast, overnight stays by non-residents grew by a more modest 1%, though they still constitute the majority of stays at 25.8 million. The second quarter of the year alone generated two billion euros in revenue from 9.2 million guests and 23 million overnight stays.
The INE pointed out that the second quarter marked the third consecutive quarter where the growth rate of domestic overnight stays surpassed that of international visitors. Between April and June, resident stays totaled 6.4 million, a 7.6% increase, while stays from foreign markets rose by 2.9% to 16.7 million. The statistics agency clarified that these quarterly results were partly influenced by the timing of the Easter holidays, which fell entirely in the second quarter this year, unlike in 2024.
The data also reveals a significant dependence on foreign tourists in several key regions. The Grande Lisboa (Greater Lisbon) area recorded the highest reliance on international markets, with 82.9% of its total overnight stays attributed to non-residents. This was closely followed by the autonomous region of Madeira, at 82.4%, and the Algarve, at 81.4%. These figures underscore the importance of international travel for the real estate and hospitality sectors in these prime locations.
Conversely, the Centro and Alentejo regions demonstrated the lowest dependence on external markets, with international tourists accounting for just 34.6% and 36% of overnight stays, respectively. This indicates a stronger domestic tourism base in these areas. The report also touched upon wages within the sector, noting that the average gross monthly remuneration in accommodation activities was €1,370 in the second quarter, a 6.6% increase year-on-year, though still below the national average across all economic activities.
Last year, Portugal's tourist accommodation establishments set a new record with 31.6 million guests and 80.3 million overnight stays, representing annual increases of 5.2% and 4%, respectively. The continuous growth in tourism metrics provides a strong indicator of the health of a sector that is intrinsically linked to real estate investment and development across the country.
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