Algarve hopes to reach 20 million overnight stays by end of year
Hotel bookings in the Algarve for New Year’s Eve are “looking very good” and should follow the positive trend seen throughout 2023, which is shaping up to be the region’s “best tourism year ever”.
André Gomes, who leads the Algarve Tourism Region (RTA) and the Algarve Tourism Association (ATA), is confident that the region will end 2023 on a high note.
“With the number of bookings already made, but considering likely last-minute bookings, the outlook is very good,” André Gomes told Lusa news agency, adding that he expects the Algarve will reach 20 million overnight stays by the end of the year.
Although New Year’s Eve is still a couple of weeks away, and there is no exact data on bookings thus far, the Algarve tourism chief says the “very positive” expectations are based on feedback he has received from the sector’s representative associations and hoteliers.
“Some hoteliers are already reporting good business for the last quarter of the year, while last week a hotelier told me he was fully-booked for New Year’s Eve,” said André Gomes.
These optimistic expectations are also based on the “good influx” of Portuguese tourists that the Algarve’s hotel sector experienced over the December 1 Bank Holiday weekend, the first of four ‘long weekends’ this month.
“It started right at the beginning of the month and, until the end of the month, we have four long weekends due to public holidays and festivities. And this is an opportunity many national tourists take to visit the Algarve,” said André Gomes.
Demand from the Portuguese market is “stronger and more pressing” during the festive period, although very much subject to last-minute bookings, which often take into account the weather, he said.
In addition to the usual foreign markets, such as the UK and Ireland, André Gomes stressed that the Algarve is seeing “very strong growth” from the North American, Italian and French markets, which should continue into the festive season.
Given these figures, he believes that hotel occupancy in the Algarve on New Year’s Eve will rise compared to last year, in line with the “level of growth” seen between January and October 2023.
During that period, the Algarve recorded more guests (7.2% more), more overnight stays (6.1% more) and more overall revenue (11%) than in the same period in 2022.
“We’re close to reaching the 20 million overnight stays mark and I believe that, by the end of the year, we’ll reach that figure, making this the best year ever in terms of tourism in the region,” added the president of the RTA.
“Anchor event” could attract more revellers
Hélder Martins, president of the Association of Algarve Hotels and Tourism Developments (AHETA), has confirmed the positive expectations for the festive season, adding that some hotels are even seeing an increase in foreigners looking to spend Christmas in the region.
The goal is to increase occupancy levels compared to last year, which Martins believes would be easier if the Algarve hosted an “anchor event” (a term used frequently in Portuguese to describe a major event that pulls large crowds) for New Year’s Eve, similar to Madeira.
“We have big New Year’s Eve celebrations in Albufeira, and then every municipality in the Algarve hosts their own party. But if we had a big ‘anchor event’ like Madeira, which hosts one single event and is able to fill up most hotels, we could do even better,” the AHETA president told the Resident.
While Albufeira is usually promoted as the Algarve’s main New Year’s destination, the town has faced some challenges to live up to the hype, such as the closure for the winter of several businesses and restaurants.
“We know the council has been working hard to convince business owners to stay open. In previous years, we have seen revellers arriving and struggling to find a restaurant open,” Martins said.
Welcome 2024 in Algarve!
Albufeira has set the lofty goal of organising the “best festivities in Portugal”, expected to attract a crowd of over 300,000 people. Musical guests Richie Campbell (December 30) and The Gift (December 31) will take the stage at Albufeira’s beachside square Praia dos Pescadores, as well as DJ Rita Mendes. The programme also features an aquatic pyromusical show, an aerial choreography and a laser show, as well as other events such as Paderne’s Medieval Fair, a ‘Pop Art Parade’, a street food festival and more.
Portimão has also announced a three-day New Year’s party between December 29 and 31, which will take place at the town’s riverside. Highlights include a performance by The Beatles tribute band The Peakles on December 29; the RFM Time Machine show, which promises to be an “irresistible journey through the greatest musical hits of the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s,” on December 30; and a traditional Portuguese ‘baile’ led by Turb’Ó Baile on December 31.
Quarteira, another highlight in the Algarve’s New Year’s celebrations, is planning four days of fun, starting with the 11th São Silvestre Race on December 28 and three nights of concerts to end the year, with Australian-born singer/songwriter Marc Noah (December 29), a Dire Straits tribute band (December 30) and Portuguese pop band D.A.M.A. due to headline the festivities.
Olhão and Lagos have also unveiled their New Year’s Eve programmes. Entertainment in Olhão will place at Jardim Pescador Olhanense with several live shows from December 28 to 31, while Lagos will bid farewell to 2023 with two nights of concerts on December 30 and 31 at Praça do Infante.
Monte Gordo, one of the main New Year’s destinations in the Eastern Algarve, has announced a two-day “family-friendly” programme kicking off with the ‘I Love Baile Funk’ show on December 30 at 10.30pm at Monte Gordo’s Avenida Marginal. On December 31, Portuguese star singer Diogo Piçarra and DJ Pete Tha Zouk will take the stage for a “memorable New Year’s Eve party to welcome 2024”.
