The hotel occupancy rate in December, in the Algarve, was 32,3%, 11,1% more than in 2014, according to data from the Algarve Hotels and Tourism Enterprises Association. The upward trend in the occupancy rate compared to 2014 was constant throughout 2015.
Trading volume also increased in December, compared to last year, rising 13,8%.
The Dutch market (+40,5%), German (+25,6%) and Spanish (+22,4%) were the ones that registered the biggest increases in the last month, being that, by zones, Monte Gordo/VRSA had the biggest increase with 9,3 pp and Lagos/Sagres and Carvoeiro/Armação de Pêra reached an increase of 4,5 pp
Albufeira, despite the floods that devastated the county on November 1st, achieved an increase of 4,2 p.p., corresponding to the expectations of the mayor Carlos Silva e Sousa who stated on December 15th that “if there is an effect on tourism, it is the opposite. This will be another factor of curiosity and solidarity. There will be people coming to Albufeira to help Albufeira».
Also the prices of overnight staysopened in Albufeira at the end of the year and in the beginning of 2016.
The data now revealed by AHETA are in line with what Elidérico Viegas told the Sul Informação on December 31, when he stated that “there is an increase in occupations, especially by national tourists. Taking into account this bridge, instead of the traditional two days, people end up staying in the Algarve for four days, which leads to a very positive increase in the number of overnight stays».
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