Us Unites With Brazil, China, Uk And Others To Power Tourism Surge In Portugal As Tax-free Travel Shopping Hits New High

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

US unites pinch Brazil, China, UK and others to powerfulness a tourism surge successful Portugal arsenic tax-free recreation shopping hits a caller high, driven by soaring world arrivals and grounds VAT refund claims from high-spending travelers. Tourists from these 5 nations accounted for much than half of each certified tax-free purchases successful nan country, pinch Americans and Chinese visitors starring successful mean spending, while Brazilians and Brits contributed importantly to transaction volume. This surge reflects Portugal’s increasing entreaty arsenic a world destination for premium recreation and shopping experiences.

Five Nations Are connected a Tax-Free Spending Binge to Justify Record Deficits

Last year, much than 889,000 tax-free invoices were certified successful Portugal, an summation of 8.2% compared to 2023, publication nan 2024 Report connected nan Fight Against Tax and Customs Fraud and Evasion. These purchases triggered complete €86 cardinal successful VAT exemptions, up 10% versus 2018, suggestive not conscionable of much travelers, but besides higher levels of individual spending.

Five nationalities are driving this growth: Brazil, nan US, China, Angola and nan UK. Collectively, those travellers represented much than half of each VAT refund requests processed done Portugal’s charismatic e-Taxfree platform.

Big-Spending Purchases Are Most Common Among US and China Tourists

While Brazilian visitors accounted for nan highest full invoice measurement — they were nan root of 22 percent of each tax-free transactions — American and Chinese visitors directed nan highest mean acquisition values.

• U.S. visitors spent astir €1,077 per VAT-refunded transaction
• Chinese visitors were besides nan biggest spenders astatine €1,657 connected mean for each purchase.
• Brazilians were adjacent up pinch an mean of €392, followed by Angolans astatine an mean of €360.

That substance of transactions from Brazil and nan UK and of high-value spends from nan US and China forms nan breadstuff and food of nan burgeoning Portuguese recreation unit sector.

Arrival Figures Confirm Tourism Surge

Official estimates corroborate nan spike successful tax-free spending:

• The United States led nan battalion pinch much than 1 cardinal visitors successful nan first half of 2024, connected gait to surpass 2 cardinal arrivals by year’s end. This is portion of an American surge of liking successful Portugal, which has go a superior European extremity for nan US travelers who are looking for culture, coastal charm and a spot of tax-free shopping.
• Brazil, a humanities destination for Portugal, saw astir 25,860 tourer arrivals, but analysts pass of imaginable misreporting. If you look backmost complete time, nan existent number is astir apt tens of thousands. Brazilians still lead nan VAT refund strategy successful measurement of transactions anyway.
• China’s recreation rebound besides picked up pace, pinch 286,676 Chinese visitors visiting Portugal successful 2024, contributing to immoderate of nan highest luxury unit and tax-free spending. As long-haul aerial routes reopen and outbound request rises, able Chinese visitors are erstwhile much taking halfway shape successful Europe’s high-spend economy.
• The UK was 1 of Portugal’s biggest European markets pinch 12% of each world arrivals. Of nan 29 cardinal overseas visitors successful 2024, astir 3.48 cardinal were British – a number that ensures ongoing precocious postulation to Portugal’s edifice and leisure system each twelvemonth long.
• Angola is not published successful charismatic presence breakdowns, but it weighs among VAT refund claims’ apical 5 countries. That’s suggestive of what mightiness beryllium a changeless trickle of Angolans who simply don’t show up successful large numbers, but adhd up to a batch of money successful nan country’s spending-based tourism economy.

These 5 countries were nan backbone of Portugal’s tourism guidelines successful 2024, arsenic they generated some unchangeable arrivals and precocious walk successful cities and airports.

Garbage Lisbon Airport astatine nan Forefront of VAT Refund System

Portugal’s VAT refund travel passed done Lisbon airdrome successful arms of nan plane. The airdrome accounted for astir 75 per cent of nan worth of each tax-free invoices:

• 230,610 holidaymakers bought tax-free successful Lisbon ItemType=”1″3700 lb230,610 holidaymakers bought tax-free successful Lisbon.
• Their turnover amounted to much than € 342 cardinal (inclusive of VAT).

In comparison:

• The airdrome of Porto: 7% of tax-free declare – € 35 million.
• Faro Airport came second, pinch 2%, aliases a small much than €7 million

As airdrome arrivals and refunds are truthful intimately linked, Lisbon’s supremacy of some propose it is Portugal’s unit and tourism capital.

As We Rise You A New Day Everyday Body Count

Portugal’s tax-free roar is simply a reflection of nan betterment successful aerial travel. A caller nationalist grounds of 69.2 cardinal passengers passed done nan country’s airports successful 2024. Lisbon Airport separately received 35.1 cardinal passengers, further reinforcing its domiciled arsenic nan premier destination for world tourism and luxury shopping departures.

These numbers are akin to those of VAT exemption figures, indicating an evident nexus betwixt increasing arrivals and accrued tax-free shopping.

High-Spend Travel Economy Enriched by Overseas Guests

The 2024 study besides shows that much than 65% of nan full worth of tax-free transactions was posted by conscionable 5 countries: Brazil, nan US, Angola, China and nan UK. These are nan markets that proceed to guideline Portuguese inbound tourism strategy pinch a beardown accent connected agelong haul, precocious walk visitors.

What’s more, Portugal’s hassle-free VAT refund regimes, world-class shopping, competitory prices and taste practice are giving it a limb up connected different European destinations.

US unites pinch Brazil, China, UK and others to powerfulness a tourism surge successful Portugal arsenic tax-free recreation shopping hits a caller precocious owed to soaring visitant arrivals and record-breaking VAT-free spending. This emergence is fueled by a crisp summation successful high-value purchases and increasing liking from long-haul markets.

City Guide to Portugal

Your Insider’s Look astatine nan Must-Visit Cities Driving Portugal’s Travel and Shopping Boom

Portugal offers a seamless operation of old-world charm, modern lifestyle, coastal escapes, and tax-free shopping, making it 1 of nan astir rewarding destinations for travelers from nan US, Brazil, China, nan UK, and beyond. Here’s your guideline to nan cities shaping Portugal’s world tourism surge.

Lisbon – The Soul of Portugal

Why Go:

As Portugal’s capital and biggest VAT refund hub, Lisbon offers everything from historic neighborhoods for illustration Alfama and Belém to vibrant shopping districts, gourmet cuisine, and modern taste hotspots.

Don’t Miss:

• Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower for practice lovers
• LX Factory for indie boutiques, creation galleries, and cafes
• Avenida da Liberdade for luxury shopping eligible for VAT refunds
• Tram 28 for a vintage thrust done nan city’s hills

Travel Tips:

• Use Lisbon Card for discounted entree to museums and nationalist transit
• Most tax-free purchases are processed astatine Lisbon Airport, truthful prevention receipts
• Expect crowds successful summer—plan sightseeing early greeting aliases aft sunset

Porto – Wine, Bridges, and Timeless Streets

Why Go:

Known for its Port vino cellars and atmospheric riverside views, Porto is Portugal’s 2nd metropolis and a UNESCO-listed gem that blends history pinch imaginative modern energy.

Don’t Miss:

• Dom Luís I Bridge and sunset views complete nan Douro River
• Livraria Lello, 1 of nan world’s astir beautiful bookstores
• Wine tastings successful Vila Nova de Gaia
• Artisan shops successful nan Rua das Flores district

Shopping Tip:

• Porto offers VAT-free shopping connected designer fashion, ceramics, and leather goods
• Many boutiques will assistance pinch e-Taxfree certification earlier departure

Faro – Gateway to nan Algarve

Why Go:

Faro is nan capital of confederate Portugal’s Algarve region, celebrated for its beaches, seafood, and relaxed charm. While often seen arsenic a transit hub, Faro rewards travelers who linger.

Don’t Miss:

• Old Town Faro pinch cobbled alleys and centuries-old architecture
• Day trips to Ilha Deserta aliases Praia da Marinha
• Evening strolls on nan Ria Formosa lagoon

Airport Info:

• Faro Airport handles a smaller stock of VAT refunds (just 2%) but is efficient
• VAT-free eligible shops are mostly located successful Mar Shopping Algarve adjacent nan airport

Sintra – Palaces successful nan Mist

Why Go:

A short train thrust from Lisbon, Sintra is axenic fairy-tale magic. Its forest-covered hills, romantic palaces, and mystical Moorish ruins make it a must-visit.

Don’t Miss:

• The agleam yellowish Pena Palace
• Quinta da Regaleira, a dreamscape of underground tunnels and gardens
• Sintra’s historical municipality center for pastries for illustration travesseiros

Tip:

• Crowds highest midday—visit early greeting for nan champion ray and less tourists
• Some artisan shops connection VAT-eligible souvenirs, truthful bring your passport

Cascais – Seaside Elegance

Why Go:

Cascais is Lisbon’s reply to nan French Riviera — a charming coastal edifice town pinch an aerial of quiet luxury, perfect for shopping, seafood, and aureate beaches.

Don’t Miss:

• Boca do Inferno cliffs for melodramatic water views
• Chic boutiques successful nan old quarter
• Bike thrust to Guincho Beach for sunsets

Good to Know:

• Many visitors brace Cascais pinch a time travel to Estoril and its celebrated casino
• VAT-free shopping applies to upscale jewelry, clothing, and galleries

Évora – History Beneath nan Surface

Why Go:

Évora offers a heavy dive into Portugal’s Roman past, located successful nan Alentejo region and known for temples, cathedrals, and moreover bone chapels.

Don’t Miss:

• The Roman Temple of Évora
• Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos)
• Local oliva lipid and cork-based souvenirs

Insider Tip:

• Less crowded than Lisbon aliases Porto, but VAT refund still applies to each qualifying purchases from registered retailers

Final Travel Notes for Tax-Free Shoppers

• Eligibility: Non-EU residents suffice for VAT refunds connected purchases complete €50 (including Americans, Brazilians, Chinese, Angolans, and Brits post-Brexit)
• How It Works:
  • Ask for a tax-free shape (or integer e-Taxfree registration) astatine nan clip of purchase
  • Get it validated astatine nan airdrome (Lisbon, Porto, aliases Faro) earlier departure
  • Refunds are credited via in installments paper aliases cash, minus handling fees
• Best Cities for VAT Refunds: Lisbon dominates pinch 75% of each claims, but Porto and Faro besides participate

As nan US joins Brazil, China, nan UK and Angola, Portugal is witnessing a magnificent tidal activity of incoming visitors who not only walk more, but enactment longer, and time off a greater people connected nan nationalist economy. From Lisbon’s high-end boutiques to Porto’s world terminals, nan tourism and unit sectors successful Portugal are ascending together.

With grounds tax-free recreation shopping and world arrivals rising, Portugal is nary longer simply a picture-perfect flight — it’s nan destination wherever nan world comes to travel, spend, and shop smart.