Portugal’s tourism industry started the year with record takings, with new figures pointing to strong demand from both European and North American visitors.
According to data from the Bank of Portugal, foreign tourists spent around €5.2 billion in the country between January and March, an increase of 3.7% compared with the same period a year earlier.
March set a new benchmark for the sector, generating about €2.1 billion in tourism revenue and marking the first time that March receipts have surpassed the €2 billion mark.
For European travellers, Portugal remains a firm favourite.
- Visitors from Europe spent roughly €3.6 billion in the first quarter, a 2.2% rise on the previous year.
- UK tourists were once again the biggest European spenders, laying out more than €660 million between January and March, a 1.8% increase.
- German visitors followed closely with nearly €630 million in spending and a stronger growth rate of 5.4%.
Outside Europe, the United States has become one of the standout markets. American visitors spent more than €1.1 billion in Portugal during the first quarter, representing an increase of over 10% compared with the same period last year.
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