LISBON, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Purchases made in Portugal using foreign bank cards reached record levels this summer, the Bank of Portugal revealed on Tuesday.
In the months of July, August and September, 23.5 million transactions were processed using non-Portuguese bank cards, accounting for 1.586 billion euros in spending.
Tourists splashed out 662 million euros in August alone, a record high. Tourism has grown at a tremendous rate in Portugal in recent years.
The July to September period is the peak season for foreign tourists visiting Portugal.
The French and the British were this summer's biggest spendthrifts. Bank cards issued in France accounted for 6.4 million transactions and 339 million euros. British visitors used their cards less but spent more, getting through 348 million euros from 3.4 million transactions.
Spanish, German, Dutch and American visitors were the next biggest consumers.
