Enhanced Tourist Spending Observed with a 30% Surge
In an uptick, purchases and withdrawals surged by a whopping 30%, accompanied by a 22% increase in spending, even though the typical expenditure dipped slightly to €39, down by €3 compared to the previous year.
Hailing from various corners of the globe, the Spanish, British, French, Americans, and Brazilians emerged as the top tourist spenders in Portugal. The Spanish dominated the scene with 18% of transactions, followed closely by the Brits at 14%. The French and Americans followed suit with 12% and 7%, while the Brazilians rounded off the top five with 5%.
Portugal witnessed a 5% overall increase in transactions compared to the same period last year, with the average spend settling at €38. Notably, MB WAY transactions saw a whopping 32% growth in volume, with an average expenditure of €21.
During the Easter season, Portuguese locals spent an average of €29 in supermarkets, a drop of €2 from the average daily spend during the period between Ash Wednesday and the previous weekend. From Thursday to Saturday, there was a substantial increase in grocery shopping, with a 27% surge on Thursday, 38% on Friday, and a staggering 47% on Saturday compared to the daily average from April 12 to 16.
Among Portuguese travelers venturing more than 50 km from their cities, Viseu and Faro gained prominence. Viseu experienced a 166% increase in physical consumption for Lisbon residents and a 47% uptick for Porto residents, while Faro saw a 95% and 62% increase in operations for Lisbon and Porto locals, respectively. Northward trips between Porto and Bragança resulted in a 75% spike in purchases, and the Porto-Viana do Castelo route showed a 17% hike.
Portuguese travelers abroad accounted for an 11% increase in physical transactions and withdrawals, despite a 2% dip in the total value compared to the previous year. The average spend was €45, down by €4 from Easter 2024. Spain stood out as the favored destination, representing 34% of total Portuguese consumption abroad, followed by France (19%), Italy (7%), the Netherlands, and Belgium (5%).
On Easter Sunday, the food sector reported an upward trend in transactions, with a 5% increase in number and a 10% rise in value. The average value showed a positive variation of €1, reaching €31.
Though specific data on tourist spending patterns by nationality is scarce, Portugal's tourism sector is thriving, attracting millions of foreign tourists and contributing substantially to the country's GDP. Portugal is a popular destination for tourists from across Europe and beyond, with key destinations like Lisbon and the Algarve being favored by visitors from countries like the UK, Germany, and France. The EU's travel and tourism sector has made a significant impact on GDP, with international visitor spending reaching €515 billion in 2024. As tourism continues to be a crucial sector for Portugal's economy, it is anticipated that visitor spending will continue to grow, driven by increasing foreign tourism.
- In the realm of financial transactions, a surge of 32% was observed in MB WAY operations in Portugal, indicating a growing interest in this payment method.
- Traveling beyond their cities, Portuguese tourists showed a preference for Viseu and Faro, with significant increases in spending, suggesting these destinations are becoming popular hotspots.
