By Geoff Percival,Stephen Aherne

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Ireland has risen to become the sixth largest inbound market for Portugal, in terms of tourist spend.

Irish holidaymakers have spent a combined €717m+ in Portugal this year, so far, climbing ahead of other nations like Brazil, Italy, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

From January to July 2025, revenue from Irish visitors rose 4% year-on-year, reinforcing the enduring strength of the Irish market despite changing travel habits and wider economic pressures.

Here’s the breakdown….

Regional Growth: Madeira Leads the Way

While the year began with reduced winter flight capacity, travel has bounced back strongly:

• Madeira recorded a remarkable +62% growth in overnight stays, driven by expanded air routes.

• Porto & North also saw healthy growth of +6.1%.

• The Algarve welcomed more guests (+3.2%), though average stays were shorter.

• The Azores saw fewer visitors (–2.9%), but those who came stayed longer (+1.6% overnight stays).

By contrast, Lisbon continues to face decline, constrained by airport capacity that also affects nearby regions such as the Centre and Alentejo.

Golf Tourism on the Rise

Ireland has also broken into the top four golf markets for Portugal. Irish golfers posted consistent growth across the first half of the year, with the Algarve and Centre regions surpassing previous records.

“These results highlight both the strength of Ireland as a tourism market and the opportunities ahead,” said Carlos Oliveira, Director of Visit Portugal, Ireland. “Irish travellers are not only returning in greater numbers, but also diversifying their holidays – from golf to island escapes. As connectivity expands, we are working to ensure growth is spread across all regions and seasons, building a more balanced and sustainable model for the future.”

And, with autumn and winter sun campaigns now under way, Portugal expects further momentum from the Irish market heading into 2026.