British Wind in Portuguese Tourism: They Will Be at the Top in the First Half of 2026

Speaking of summer season activity, tourism and spending data for the first half of the year have begun to become clear. It was obvious from the density on the streets and the crowds in the restaurants, but the numbers clearly confirm this. In the first six months of 2026, the British once again took the lion's share of spending with foreign cards in Portugal.

What Do the Numbers Say?

According to the latest tables based on Turismo de Portugal data and SIBS statistics, British tourists made 16 million electronic transactions in the country between January and June. The total amount of expenditure resulting from this amounted to 518 million Euros. There is an increase of 6.2% here compared to the same period last year.

The average spend per transaction hovered around €32.70. In other words, rather than spending huge amounts of money all at once, they have reached this peak by spending continuously and in small amounts throughout the holiday. Of course, a large portion of these expenditures are, unsurprisingly, in the two regions where our side is most concentrated; It is concentrated in the Algarve and Greater Lisbon.

Who Follows?

It is also quite intriguing who follows England on the list. The United States ranks second. From here we understand how strong the transatlantic demand is, but in terms of spending volume, no one comes close to the British. The overwhelming superiority of the European market in this field continues, given its geographical proximity and breadth of flight networks.

While the average spending per transaction among foreign tourists is 35.70 €, there are some notable exceptions in the list. For example, Irish tourists have almost tripled the average with €90.60 per transaction. Those from Portuguese-speaking countries are also well ahead in their individual spending amounts; For example, Mozambicans spent an average of €53 per transaction, while Angolans spent €50.

Where Does the Money Go?

When we look at it on a sectoral basis, the slices of the cake consist of the following:

Retail: Ranked first with approximately 1.4 billion euros.

Restaurants: With a share of over 1 billion euros.

Accommodation: Approximately 735 euros.

When we put food and beverage, accommodation and travel agencies under each other, we see that the total amount going directly to the tourism experience reaches 1.8 billion euros. It is clear from these tables how the country's economy is fed by this mobility.

Source: Portugal Resident (Íris Marçal)

Photo Source: Envato Elements (Author: Iakobchuk)