Portugal is attracting ever more foreign visitors. More than 90% of them want to come back, and they all love the climate, food and scenery. But the flip side is they want the economic crisis fixed, they’re not wild about car hire firms, and more and more of them are staying in private houses. It’s not all rosy, in other words.~
The data comes from a new study by Turismo de Portugal, entitled ‘Satisfação de Turistas’ (tourist satisfaction), and it has given tourist bosses much food for thought. For example, trends show that more and more tourists are coming here on their own. Figures for people travelling with children dropped alarmingly from a buoyant 24% to just 9%, while adult trippers bounced up five percentage points to 75%.
Another change is that more visitors are not paying for their stays. The number of people who visit friends has almost doubled from 10% in 2012 to 19% in 2013.
Hotels have managed to hold on to their share of the market (dropping just 1% in popularity from 2012’s figures of 52%) but villa and apartment rentals have plummeted from a 27% share in the foreign visitor place-of-choice market, to just 12%.
Numbers are also up for people staying in their own homes, too. In 2012, this figure represented only 1% of the market. Now it sits at 6%.
Covered in detail by Público newspaper, the study also shows that Scandinavians are among Portugal’s greatest fans. Ninety-seven per cent of Scandinavians, whose countries are all plunged into darkness during winter months, said they would most certainly be returning.
‘Satisfação de Turistas’ has been compiled from trends and figures since 2010. The interviews with 834 foreign visitors from seven countries and landmasses (Spain, France, Brazil, UK, Germany, Holland and Scandinavia) took place during the height of last summer and show that a healthy 64% will “certainly” be returning within the next three years – with another 27% “probably” returning.
But where to exactly? Answers show that Lisbon now has superseded the Algarve as number one place of choice. Forty-eight per cent of foreign visitors chose the capital for their holidays (up 6% from last year), while 42% came down south, which represents a four percentage point drop.
Público adds that foreign visitors were fairly unanimous in the aspects they enjoyed in Portugal. “The large majority of foreign visitors left Portugal satisfied, especially with the landscapes, gastronomy and wines, and the beaches.
“On the other hand, they felt more defrauded in respect of services offered, particularly when it comes to healthcare, car hire, restaurants and nautical activities.
“When asked what they would like to see improved for their next visit, the resolution of the economic crisis led replies, followed by a reduction in prices and the level of pollution.”
Intriguingly, the way foreigners discover Portugal is also changing, says Público, “now that the internet (22%) has been overtaken by recommendations from either family or friends, which now stand at 36%”.
“Last year the country was discovered on the web by 40% of those interviewed and only 31% referred to a recommendation.”
But as for reasons to visit, these stay pretty much constant, says the study: the climate, the climate, the climate!
