Hotels in Algarve are expecting to have up to 80% of their rooms booked for Easter
The Algarve’s hotel industry is expecting a busier Easter season than last year’s, according to the region’s main hotel association AHETA.
“Reservations are above last year (at this time), and our outlook is very positive for Easter,” AHETA president Hélder Martins told Lusa news agency this week.
Martins added that occupancy levels are expected to range between 70% and 80%, surpassing those of 2024.
Portuguese holidaymakers are due to remain the main guests at regional hotels, followed by British, Irish and German tourists. Americans are expected to start arriving in larger numbers in May with the eagerly awaited launch of the first direct air link between the Algarve and the USA, operated by United Airlines.
The fact that Easter is later than usual this year, with Good Friday falling on April 18, is also contributing to the positive outlook, with the later timing increasing the likelihood of warmer temperatures, Martins explained.
While hotels have raised their prices by 3% to 4%, Martins believes business owners in the sector are adapting to the demand for their services.
“Just like in aviation, if demand increases, prices go up, and if it drops, they go down,” Martins added, noting that tourists no longer make reservations as far in advance as they used to.
He also pointed out that many people book their stays in January, especially foreign tourists, when airlines and hotels often run “very aggressive” promotions. However, there are also last-minute bookers who make reservations at the very last moment, sometimes even on the same day, taking advantage of “last-minute” prices.
“Nowadays, people check online for the latest opportunities and consult several websites before making a reservation,” said Martins.
Despite the upcoming national elections, scheduled for May 18, Martins believes that the political climate will not influence tourists’ decisions to visit the Algarve.
“In my opinion, the elections, just like the last time, will be heavily broadcast on television, with leaders coming to the Algarve for a day of campaigning, but this will not impact people’s travel decisions,” he said.
Looking ahead, Martins is also optimistic about the summer season. “Compared to last year’s reservation levels, we are seeing an increase across all indicators, including bookings for the peak summer months,” Martins added.
