With new direct flights to the US, the Baltics and beyond, the Algarve is opening up to a wider audience of tourists year-round.
This is a deliberate strategy set out by Algarve tourism authorities many years ago – by diversifying where tourists come from, the popular destination is able to welcome more visitors throughout the year and reduce its dependence on just one or two key markets.
“Every new route that opens from Faro (airport) not only brings new visitors but also extends the tourist season,” Algarve tourism chief André Gomes told the Resident.
The latest most impactful new route was undoubtedly the launch of the Algarve’s first direct air link to the US in May this year, with United Airlines connecting Faro to Newark. The route is set to resume on May 15, 2026.
“It’s clear that the route is performing very well,” says Gomes, highlighting that North American travellers are “not the traditional tourist looking only for sun and beach”.
“They also have a considerable capacity to spend in the region and are looking, above all, for authentic, more immersive experiences” that put them in touch with traditions and culture, he told Lusa news agency last week.
As the president of the Algarve Tourism Board (RTA) explained, American travellers don’t just travel to the Algarve to see the region but instead are “long-haul tourists” who end up visiting the whole country. Many are also looking for a second home or even considering moving to the Algarve.
“Before, they often arrived through Lisbon or Porto and then came down to the Algarve. Now, they can start their visit here and get to know the country from south to north,” Gomes said.
Recent data from Portugal’s National Statistics Institute (INE) shows that in August 2025, the North American market grew by 9.8% in terms of overnight stays, while the Canadian market rose by 8.5%, making them two of the country’s fastest-growing source markets.
Furthermore, the number of US citizens living in Portugal jumped from 14,129 in 2023 to 19,258 in 2024, according to new data from Portugal’s Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) – echoing recent reports from Iberian real estate developer Kronos Homes about a surge in American interest in Portugal’s property market in recent years.
Meanwhile, new routes to Helsinki (Finland), Reykjavik (Iceland), Bordeaux (France) and Riga (Latvia) have expanded the Algarve’s reach into Northern and Eastern Europe, as well as France. These markets are also valued for their longer average stays and off-season travel patterns. “Riga puts the Baltic region on the Algarve’s connectivity map,” said Gomes, noting that these connections are helping to strengthen year-round tourism.
Next spring, Icelandair will add Faro to its network for the first time, launching twice-weekly flights from March 26 to May 11, followed by weekly services until mid-May. The route replaces the connection previously operated by the now-defunct PLAY Airlines and will focus heavily on golf and premium travel packages.
Direct flights are vital for the Algarve, says André Gomes. “They cut travel times, reduce dependence on hubs, diversify markets, and help spread tourism throughout the year.”
The strategy appears to have borne fruit, as Faro Airport registered over 9.8 million passengers in 2024, followed by “solid growth” reported by VINCI Airports in the summer of 2025.
Meanwhile, direct links between Faro and the Madeira and Azores archipelagos (namely Funchal and Ponta Delgada) have also helped boost airport numbers. “These air links allow easier travel between the Algarve, Madeira and Azores, ensuring a better annual distribution of tourists,” he said.
Faro Airport’s increasing diversity of routes is also attracting more Portuguese travellers. According to data released by Turismo do Algarve, more than 400,000 Portuguese passengers travelled through Faro’s Gago Coutinho International Airport between January and August 2025 — almost 10% more than during the same period last year.
“These routes are being used both by Algarve residents and people from the south of Portugal, who now have more convenient travel options within the country, as well as by visitors from Madeira and the Azores who see the Algarve as a holiday destination,” Gomes explained.
With all these positive indicators, it is no surprise that data shows the Algarve remains Portugal’s main tourism driver, accounting for 36.3% of national tourism revenue last August. Domestic tourism also remains strong, with a 3.4% increase in Portuguese visitors in August compared with 2024.
“This contradicts the idea that the Algarve is losing its appeal to Portuguese tourists or becoming too expensive,” said André Gomes. “It clearly shows the region’s consolidation as Portugal’s preferred holiday destination.”
By MICHAEL BRUXO & BEATRIZ MAIO – news@portugalresident.com
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