2017 proved to be a year of benchmarks for the Algarve’s hotel sector, which enjoyed its best December in terms of bookings since records began.
Nearly 40% of rooms were booked throughout the month, an increase of 2.3 percentage points on the same month in 2016 and the highest percentage ever registered.
Regional hotelier association AHETA claims the historic result is due to an increase in Portuguese tourists in the Algarve as well as the fact that New Year’s Day was on a Monday, making it perfect for a long weekend away.
As has been the case for several months, the number of British holidaymakers staying at hotels fell by 3.6 percentage points. However, there were more Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and German tourists in the Algarve.
The areas that saw bookings grow the most were Tavira (+8.4pp) and Vilamoura (+6.7pp) while Albufeira, described by AHETA as the main tourist area of the Algarve, saw them increase by 4pp.
However, there were fewer rooms booked in Monte Gordo/Vila Real de Santo António (-10.5pp) and Faro/Olhão (-8pp).
Further data shows that three-star tourist apartments and resorts (+7.7pp) and five-star hotels (+7.2pp) were the establishments where bookings grew the most.
Business volume also increased 12.3%.
michael.bruxo@algarveresident.com
