The number of foreign tourists visiting Portugal increased by 5.3%, setting a monthly record of 2.3 million visitors in August.

According to National Statistics Service data released today, this is the largest summer season tourist arrivals on record in the country.

Most foreign tourists come from Spain, France, Britain, and the US.

In the first eight months of 2024, arrivals increased by 6.7%, compared to a year earlier, to 13.1 million visitors.

Tourism is a key driver for Portugal’s economy and last year, the number of foreign visitors to Portugal exceeded 18 million.

However, the tourism “boom” has also led to an increase in the number of short-term rentals, causing a contraction in the property market, which has led to protests in Lisbon and other cities by residents struggling to find accommodation.

Tourism-related consumption amounted to nearly 44 billion euros, accounting for 16.5 percent of last year’s GDP, and generated almost half of the 2.3 percent economic growth, according to the same source.