The demand for international destinations has never been so high for those residing in Portugal. This is what the data from the study “Residents’ tourist demand” show, carried out by the Portuguese National Institute of Statistics (INE) and released this Friday (25). In 2023, residents of Portuguese territory left the country 3.2 million times, representing an increase of 21.5% compared to the previous year.
The period of greatest flow out of the country was recorded in August, the month in which residents crossed the Portuguese border 548 thousand times. Spain, France and Italy were the favorite destinations for travelers from Portugal.
Fourth quarter of 2023
In the fourth quarter of 2023, residents of Portugal took 5.1 million trips, an increase of 2.9% compared to the same period of the previous year. Of these, 86.7% were domestic trips, while trips abroad represented 13.3% of the total.
Visiting family or friends was the main reason for traveling in the fourth quarter, totaling 2.6 million trips. On the other hand, leisure, recreation or vacation trips account for 1.9 million cases, representing 36.1% of the total. While domestic trips were predominantly motivated by visits to family or friends, international trips were mostly for leisure.
accommodation
Accommodation in free private accommodation gained even more relevance, representing 73.1% of overnight stays on trips. On the other hand, hotels and similar hotels were the second most popular option, housing a considerable portion of travelers, especially those on business trips.
Regarding travel organization, the use of the internet was crucial for tourists’ planning. In the last quarter of 2023, 72.9% of international trips were organized online, showing a preference for the convenience and effectiveness of digital bookings, the report points out.
Tags: International travel breaks historic record among residents Portugal
