Tourism up 0.9% in August with 3.8 million guests

Portugal’s tourism sector posted 3.8 million guests for August which was an increase of 0.9% while overnight stays rose 1.1% to 10.7 million, according to preliminary estimates from the National Statistics Institute (INE).

The Portuguese opted to spend the month in the country for their holidays with overnight stays up 4.1% to 3.8 million while foreigner numbers fell 0.5% to 6.9 million.

The United States was the leading source market, with an increase of 9.8%, followed by Canada, with an increase of 8.5%. The Spanish market, on the other hand, recorded the biggest drop, -9.1%, followed by the Italian market, with -6.9%.

Despite the growth of the United States, the British market was the leader as usual, accounting for 16.9%.

Central Portugal was the region that recorded the largest decrease in overnight stays, at -3%. The Madeira region showed the most significant growth, +3.7%, but it was the Algarve that accounted for 30.3% of the total overnight stays.

Total income from this sector remained robust in August, with a growth of 6.5%, and retirement income increased by 5.5%. The average revenue per available room reached €116.8, which translates into an increase of 2.6%, and the average revenue per occupied room reached €159.2, an increase of 4.3%.

Source: Lusa/INE