Easter Travel Boosts Record-Breaking Tourism Revenue in April
Portugal saw its highest-ever tourism revenue for the month of April, with data released by the Bank of Portugal (BdP) on June 18, 2025, confirming a significant surge driven by Easter holiday travel.
Tourism exports, measured by spending from international visitors – grew by 8.8% year-over-year, reaching an unprecedented 2.25€ billion for April alone.
This remarkable figure marks the strongest April performance in Portugal’s tourism history, reflecting the robust demand from foreign tourists who traveled to the country during the Easter season, celebrated this year on April 20.
April Tourism Revenue Hits 2.25€ Billion – An All-Time High
According to the BdP, foreign tourism spending in April increased by 182.71€ million compared to the same month in 2024, which had already set a previous record. When compared to March 2025, the growth is even more striking—up 14.6%, or an additional 287.85€ million—highlighting the seasonal importance of Easter travel to Portugal’s tourism economy.
Portuguese Tourist Spending Abroad Also Rises
In addition to the surge in inbound tourism, outbound tourism also saw significant growth. Portuguese travelers spent 633.73€ million abroad in April, reflecting a 9.0% increase over April 2024, when the figure stood at 581.29€ million.
Month-over-month, this represents an impressive 80% jump compared to March, when outbound tourism expenditures totaled just 351.97€ million. This sharp increase confirms that many Portuguese residents also chose to travel during the Easter holiday.
Travel and Tourism Balance Surpasses 1.6€ Billion
The Travel and Tourism balance, which reflects the net difference between international tourism revenue and Portuguese spending abroad, reached 1.62€ billion in April. That’s a year-over-year increase of 8.7%, or 130.27€ million, compared to April 2024.
Though modest compared to March—when the balance stood at 1.613€ billion—April still saw a slight month-over-month rise of 0.4%, indicating that while both inbound and outbound travel grew during Easter, their ratio remained relatively stable.
The BdP also emphasized that the surplus in the services trade balance rose by 416€ million in April, a gain largely attributed to the positive performance of the tourism sector. Specifically, the Travel and Tourism balance (+130€ million) and transport services (+83€ million) were key contributors to this growth.
This reinforces the strategic economic importance of tourism as a driver of Portugal’s export strength, especially during peak travel periods like Easter.
Cumulative Growth: Tourism Revenue Up 5.5% Through April
Looking at the broader picture, the first four months of 2025 have already shown strong cumulative growth. Between January and April, tourism revenue totaled 7.24€ billion, a 5.5% increase compared to 6.87€ billion during the same period in 2024.
Outbound tourism spending also climbed, reaching 1.64€ billion, up 4.2% from last year’s 1.58€ billion. As a result, the net tourism balance rose to 5.58€ billion, reflecting a 5.3% year-over-year increase, or 281.63€ million more than in the same period last year.
April 2025’s figures underscore the vital role of seasonal travel events like Easter in boosting Portugal’s tourism performance. With both inbound and outbound markets expanding, and international travelers continuing to choose Portugal for its rich culture, coastal beauty, and hospitality, the outlook for the sector remains highly positive.
As summer approaches, these early gains position Portugal for another record-breaking year in tourism- an industry that continues to be a cornerstone of the nation’s economic resilience and global appeal.