Algarve tourism showing positive signs of recovery

Nationals outnumber foreigners in Algarve hotels
21/8/2010

During July more Portuguese visitors to the Algarve stayed in hotels than foreign tourists, and more noticeably, in higher classes of hotel.

Last month, overall, hotels were fuller than in the same month of 2009, but this year the figures were mostly made up by national guests.

According to AHETA – the Algarve Association for Hotels and Tourist Resorts – the average occupation rate for hotels in the region was 79.2 percent, 5.8 percent higher than in July 2009.

"This increase is obviously a positive factor even though other businesses' results have not been taken into account", Eldérico Viegas, head of AHEAT, said, adding that the Algarve is still in a "negative phase".

Four and five star hotels were most in demand by tourists last month; something Eldérico Viegas believes is spurred by the lower prices and more appealing promotional packages that are accessible even to the average tourist.

National tourists in the Algarve this year increased by 20 percent, in comparison to last July's figures, while the British market improved by 1.3 percent, and the Dutch market by 17.4 percent.

 

Source, The Portugal News