| Dublin, Monday, 31 August 2026: Carlos Pinto de Oliveira, Director of Visit Portugal in Ireland, and His Excellency João Pedro de Vasconcelos Fins do Lago, Ambassador of Portugal to Ireland, today hosted an intimate lunch for members of the Irish travel trade at Hawksmoor Dublin.
The lunch was held to coincide with the visit to Dublin of Paulo Rangel, Portugal’s Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, who is in Ireland for meetings taking place during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The lunch brought together senior representatives from across Ireland’s travel industry, including Niall McDonnell of Killiney Travel, Philip Airey of Sunway, Sharon Harney of Cassidy Travel, Umberto di Venosa of Follow the Camino / One Foot Abroad, Paul Hackett of Click&Go, Alan Lynch of Travel Escapes / Cruise Escapes and Michael Collins of TravelMedia.ie TTR.
During the gathering, Carlos Pinto de Oliveira provided an update on Portugal’s performance in the Irish market and outlined the country’s strategy for encouraging Irish visitors to discover more of Portugal’s regions, culture, gastronomy and year-round tourism experiences.
The latest figures, covering the period to June 2026, show a 5.6% increase in Irish guests, a 1.15% rise in overnight stays and tourism revenue growth of 2%. While the Algarve continues to account for approximately 72% of Irish tourism to Portugal, the market is increasingly showing interest in destinations and experiences beyond the traditional resort offering. Porto and the North, in particular, have recorded strong growth among Irish visitors, while Alentejo, Madeira and the Azores are also seeing increased demand.
The performance reflects a broader appetite among Irish travellers for Portugal’s cities, culture, gastronomy, wine, nature and outdoor experiences, alongside the established appeal of its coastal destinations. This diversification is an important focus for Turismo de Portugal as it works with the Irish travel trade to encourage visitors to explore more of the country throughout the year.
Turismo de Portugal’s strategy for Ireland will focus on maintaining direct air access, encouraging travel during the shoulder seasons and introducing Irish visitors to Portugal’s cities, inland regions, cultural attractions, walking routes, gastronomy and wine tourism.
These objectives are being supported through partnerships with the Irish travel trade, familiarisation initiatives and promotional events, including the Portugal TTR Destination Roadshow.
Carlos Pinto de Oliveira said:
“It was a pleasure to host today’s lunch alongside Ambassador Fins do Lago during Minister Paulo Rangel’s visit to Dublin. Ireland and Portugal enjoy an exceptionally warm relationship, and the Irish travel trade plays a hugely important role in strengthening the tourism links between our two countries.
“Portugal has achieved exceptional growth from Ireland in recent years, with record results in 2024 followed by further expansion in 2025 and continued positive performance during 2026. Irish consumers have a strong relationship with Portugal, and travel remains an important priority for them despite wider economic pressures.” |
