Nautical tourism, which stems from sports tourism, focuses on activities linked to the aquatic and maritime environment. Divided between leisure and competition, this sector encompasses three major segments: cruises, recreational boating and maritime tourism activities (Freitas, 2010).
Growth and Economic Impact
According to TNEWS (2024), in 2023, “three out of four travelers who participate in outdoor activities considered them essential to their trip,” reflecting the growing preference for vacations linked to nature tourism, such as boat trips and land-based activities (ICNF – Instituto de Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas). This trend arises from the change in people’s behavior when it comes to managing their free time and the desire to escape from routine.
Portugal continues to stand out internationally in the tourism sector, with increases in 2024 of 4% in overnight stays, 5.2% in the number of guests and 8.8% in tourism revenue compared to 2023, reaching 27.7 billion euros in revenue (Turismo de Portugal, 2025).
Nautical tourism is following this trend, driven by major international competitions such as The Ocean Race (formerly the Volvo Ocean Race) and the Tall Ships Races. This segment has a strong impact on the local economies of coastal towns, boosting hotels, restaurants and other tourist services.
Technological innovations in nautical tourism
Technological advances have boosted nautical tourism, with the emergence of online booking and payment platforms, improvements in boat safety and efficiency, greener engines, navigation apps and boat rental systems. These innovations have attracted more and more tourists looking for more sustainable and responsible tourism options.
As part of its 2027 Strategy, Turismo de Portugal has made it a priority to transform the country into a Smart Destination, accelerating innovation in nautical tourism through digital resource management, personalization of the tourist experience and the adoption of sustainable technologies (Turismo de Portugal, 2017). This approach aims to make the sector more competitive, efficient and aligned with the new demands of travelers.
Sustainability in the Nautical Sector
Nautical tourism has been adopting more sustainable practices, driven by the growing concern of tourists to reduce their ecological footprint. Companies are investing in electric or hybrid boats and promoting activities in line with local environmental guidelines.
The Port of Lisbon stood out as the first in Southern Europe to join the EPI network, monitoring ship emissions to encourage more responsible practices (Port of Lisbon, 2025). In Portugal, ports such as Lisbon, Leixões and Matosinhos follow “green port” practices – a concept that promotes the adoption of environmental practices in ports, requiring significant investments to ensure greater sustainable competitiveness (Vega-Muñoz, Salazar-Sepulveda, Espinosa-Cristia, & Sanhueza-Vergara, 2021).
International research proposes integrating renewable energy sources into ports, such as solar, wind and wave energy (Vega-Muñoz et al., 2021). These initiatives further strengthen environmental competitiveness and drive more responsible practices in nautical tourism, with examples such as the Click&Boat platform, which promotes the efficient and sustainable rental of boats.
Source: (TravelBI, 2025)
Nautical tourism in Portugal has been growing, offering various activities such as sailing, surfing, diving, boat trips and river cruises.
The geographical distribution of maritime tour operators in Portugal is concentrated in the most touristic coastal regions, with the Algarve (26.7%) and Greater Lisbon (23.4%) leading the offer. This confirms the importance of proximity to the coast and major urban centers, but also points to opportunities for expansion in areas such as the Alentejo and Centro (TravelBI, 2025).
Currently, there are 1,452 registered operators, but only 29% have their own website, highlighting the need for digital transformation. To stand out in a competitive market, operators in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve must invest in digital strategies and service innovation (TravelBI, 2025). In this respect, Lisbon Sight Sailing is proud not only to have been the first company in Lisbon to offer an online booking and payment system on its website, but also to be constantly seeking to innovate its offers and processes.
Although sea tours will already have some presence in 2025, they are not in the top 5 most popular activities, which reveals an opportunity for growth, especially if operators integrate cultural, gastronomic or nature experiences into their itineraries (TravelBI, 2025).
The Future and Prospects of Nautical Tourism
Nautical tourism in Portugal should continue to grow, driven by technological innovation, sustainability and the diversification of experiences. New tourist motivations following the Covid-19 pandemic have also helped to accelerate this development.
Despite the good prospects, it is essential to ensure that boats become increasingly accessible and diverse, facing challenges such as pressure on coastal infrastructure and the need for sustainable management of marine resources (Sardinha, 2025). Adopting responsible and intelligent tourism strategies will be crucial to protecting ecosystems and ensuring the quality of life of local communities.
In Portugal, nautical tourism is considered to be an engine for boosting tourism, as part of the enhancement of the territory defined by the Tourism Strategy 2027 (Turismo de Portugal, 2017). In addition, the aim is to improve navigability conditions, modernize quays, create docking platforms for recreational boats and develop river infrastructures in the interior of the country (Lopes, 2022).
On the River Tagus, the future will involve balancing the tourism value of the estuary with the preservation of sensitive ecosystems. Climate and human pressures will require integrated management, sustainable innovation in nautical activities and strengthened environmental policies to ensure the long-term viability of the destination.
In summary, nautical tourism has evolved significantly, driven by innovation, sustainability and the search for new experiences. To keep up with this growth, companies must invest in technology and responsible practices. This sector has a strong impact on the local economy and strengthens the attractiveness of coastal destinations.
