Portugal Tourism Revenue Surpasses €5.2 Billion in Q1 2026, Driven by British and American Visitors

Portugal’s tourism industry continues to demonstrate remarkable strength, with international visitors spending more than €5.2 billion during the first quarter of 2026. According to data released by the Bank of Portugal, tourism revenue reached €5.203 billion between January and March, representing a 3.8% increase compared to the same period in 2025.

March 2026 Sets New Tourism Revenue Record

March proved to be a landmark month for Portugal’s tourism sector. For the first time in history, tourism receipts exceeded the €2 billion threshold in March, reaching €2.104 billion.

This impressive result reflects year-on-year growth of nearly 6.7%, generating an additional €132 million compared to March 2025. Revenue also surged by more than 40% compared to February, adding over €600 million in a single month.

British Tourists Remain Portugal’s Top European Market

European visitors continued to account for the majority of tourism spending in Portugal during the first quarter, contributing approximately €3.6 billion.

Among European markets, British tourists remained the largest spenders. Visitors from the United Kingdom spent more than €660 million in Portugal between January and March, maintaining their position as the country’s most valuable European tourism market.

German tourists ranked second, contributing nearly €630 million in visitor spending. Spain also delivered strong growth, while spending by French tourists declined slightly compared to the same period last year. Irish visitors continued to show stable and consistent growth.

American Tourists Lead International Spending

Outside Europe, the United States emerged as Portugal’s most significant long-haul tourism market.

American visitors spent more than €1.1 billion during the first quarter of 2026, making them the highest-spending international tourist group overall. Spending by U.S. travelers increased by more than 10% year-on-year, reflecting growing demand from North American tourists and Portugal’s rising popularity as a transatlantic destination.

Portuguese Spending Abroad Also Increases

While inbound tourism revenue continued to grow, Portuguese residents also increased their spending on international travel.

Tourism imports, which measure spending by Portuguese travelers abroad, rose by 4.4% in March to €375.7 million. During the first quarter, outbound tourism spending reached €1.099 billion, representing an annual increase of 4.8%.

Tourism Surplus Strengthens Portugal’s Economy

The difference between tourism revenue and spending abroad continued to generate a significant surplus for Portugal.

In March alone, the travel and tourism balance reached €1.729 billion, an increase of 7.2% compared to the previous year. For the first quarter of 2026, the sector recorded a surplus of €4.105 billion, up 3.6% year-on-year.

These results reinforce tourism’s strategic importance to Portugal’s economic stability and current account balance, while highlighting the country’s ability to attract high-spending international visitors.

Cre: The Portugal News