In 2017, the Algarve broke annual records for overnight stays, guests, overnight stays, passengers, income and golf rounds, according to preliminary results of tourist activity, released by the National Statistics Institute (INE).
The Algarve region recorded a total of 19 million overnight stays (+5,3% or 963 thousand more overnight stays than in 2016), 1028 million euros of total income (+13,2% or 119,7 million euros more) and 4,1 million guests (+5,1% or more 200 thousand guests).
In Portugal, hotel establishments recorded 57,5 million overnight stays in 2017, «so that the Algarve region, with 19 million, consolidated a market share of 33,1%», says the Algarve Tourism Region (RTA).
In the case of the Algarve region, the domestic market contributed with 4 million overnight stays (+3,7% or an increase of 142 thousand overnight stays) and the external markets with 15 million overnight stays (+5,8% or an increase of 821 thousand overnight stays).
In the Algarve, overnight stays from foreigners represented 79% of the total and the RTA estimates that «all the main emitters have grown in this tourist indicator».
In terms of income, the Algarve reached 1028 million euros. Hotel establishments in the Algarve ensured a share of 30,3% of the national total, while, in national terms, total income increased by 16,6% and all regions registered increases.
In the region, income from accommodation rose to 762 million euros (+14,2%).
According to data from INE, «all national destinations attracted more guests to tourist accommodation establishments throughout 2017, with a national total of 20,6 million guests, which corresponds to an annual increase of 8,9%». In this indicator, the Algarve's market share is 20%.
The airport of Faro closed the year 2017 with 8,7 million passengers handled, 14,4% more than in 2016, which corresponds to about 1,1 million more passengers than in 2016.
By market, the United Kingdom (+11,1%) represented half of the passengers handled, followed by Germany (+21,8%), with a 12,3% share. Ireland (+6,5%), Netherlands (+10,2%) and France (+39,7%) close the top-5.
The golf courses in the Algarve recorded, in 2017, 1.340.891 golf rounds, 5% more than in the previous year. The month of October was the favorite of golfers, accumulating a historic maximum of 170 thousand rounds (+6%). The Algarve is now worth around 70% of the national total of golf rounds.
Desidério Silva, president of the Algarve Tourism Region, looks at the numbers with satisfaction and highlights the «excellent performance of the Algarve hotel industry over the past five years, taking a giant step from 14 million to 19 million overnight stays and 600 million to more than one billion euros in income”.
The president of RTA also highlights the «sustained growth of the sector outside the high summer season, as a result of the diversified commitment to nature tourism, culture and gastronomy and wines, in addition to internationally awarded golf courses and the main tourist attraction in the region. , the best beaches in Europe».
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