A study commissioned by Turismo do Algarve, called «The profile of tourists visiting the Algarve», was released today and concluded that tourists visiting the Algarve are the main ambassadors of the region's tourism offer, with 95% to recommend fate to other people.
The study, carried out by the University of Algarve (UAlg), under the scientific and technical coordination of professors Antónia Correia and Paulo Águas, says that «satisfied with the experience lived in the south of the country, most (tourists) intend to continue visiting the region, promising to return as soon as possible. In this study, “the retention capacity of tourists in the region is also highlighted, which should remain high in the future”.
The main objective of this study was “to understand the essence of tourism in the region”. As the main tourist area in the country, with a flow of 17 million overnight stays in the last year and 119 beds in traditional accommodation, "there is a whole flow of supply and demand that must be quantified", explain those responsible for the study.
Focused, initially, on the tourist flow that occurred in the Algarve during the summer, the study was based on a sample of 2400 surveys, taking into account four segments of visitors: national, foreign, residential and traditional tourists. The results allow us to identify the main psychographic, motivational, sociodemographic characteristics and the degrees of satisfaction and loyalty of the various types of visitors.
«The Algarve tells me a lot», «The Algarve is special to me» and «I strongly identify with the Algarve» are, in this order, the three expressions that best portray the affinity of most tourists with the region.
Although in terms of representation in summer tourist demand, traditional and residential tourists have spent holidays in equal proportion in the region, the latter, with an average stay of 13 days, generate 3,7 times more overnight stays than traditional tourists.
Most residential tourists travel in their own vehicle (68%), with the plane having a lower weight (only 30%). As a means of accommodation, they favor their own holiday home (29%), private rental (47%) that they book online (25%) or the home of family and friends (23%).
"Holidays only in the Algarve" is a maxim that applies to residential tourists, with the vast majority (95%) visiting the destination between one (47%) to twice a year (10%) and intending to continue visiting ( 83%). Residential tourism in the Algarve has a growth potential of 47%, with holidays, retirement and investment being the three most important factors in the decision of tourists to settle their holiday base in the south of the country.
Traditional tourists, on the other hand, stay mainly in hotels (50%) or resorts (37%), for 9,5 days on average. Most arrive by plane (58%) or their own vehicle (36%) with an online reservation (71%). They are also common in the region (85%) although with a lower rate of visits (29% once a year). Satisfied, they want to return (69%), making digital platforms the best way to share their vacation days (59%). Facebook e Twitter are the two preferred networks, emerging the Instagram in third place.
The Barlavento Algarvio is the Algarve's preferred area for almost three quarters of traditional tourists (73%), followed by the Center (18%), with the Sotavento receiving only 9% of preferences. In the case of residential tourists, the differences are more blurred, with Barlavento accounting for 55% of the choices, while Centro and Sotavento have the same level of preferences (23%).
In terms of sociodemographic characteristics, 54% of residential tourists are male, 69% are dependent workers and 10% are retired, with 55% permanently residing in Portugal, 16% in the United Kingdom and 6% in Spain. As for traditional tourists, 56% are male and the number of dependent workers rises to 73%, while the number of retired workers drops to 7%. The percentage of residents in Portugal is 27%, against 25% of residents in the UK and 9% in Spain.
Once the analysis of the profile of tourists visiting the south of the country in the summer has been completed, the study promoted by Turismo do Algarve will soon incorporate an analysis of tourist flows during the low season.
For the winter chapter, 1600 surveys will be carried out, bringing the global sample to 4000 surveys, «an expressive number to allow a faithful portrayal of the entire universe of tourists who make the Algarve their preferred region to visit. vacation".
In 2015, the Algarve represented 34% of overnight stays recorded in Portugal in classified establishments, according to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE).
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