The Algarve once again had fewer tourists from the United Kingdom in 2018, compared to 2017, a year in which the main source of visitors to the region had already declined. The French, on the other hand, come more and more to the region.
In its assessment of the last tourist year, the Association of Hotels and Touristic Enterprises of the Algarve (AHETA) highlights the decrease in some important tourist source markets for the Algarve region, from the outset the British, which fell by 6%, but also the Irish (-8,5%) and Dutch (-3,5%).
AHETA points out that, in 2017, there had already been a drop of 8,5% of tourists coming from the United Kingdom, "a direct consequence of Brexit and the devaluation of the pound sterling against the euro".
These data help explain the decrease in the average annual occupancy rate of 1,1 percent, to 63,4%.
The decrease was not only greater due to the Portuguese, who represented 22% of the total number of tourists, but also the growing demand from the French market, which «definitely assumed the 6th most important in the region, with a share of 4,9% of total overnight stays', and from other 'markets with weak individual expression'. All of this "contributed to smoothing out the falls seen in the most important issuing markets".
In numbers, hotels and tourist developments in the Algarve hosted, in 2018, «4,126 million guests, of which more than 3 million foreigners and 1,1 million nationals, corresponding to 20,3 million overnight stays».
«The Algarve also received 1,26 million foreigners who did not spend the night in officially classified developments», revealed AHETA.
Even with less occupancy, hotel units did not lose more income, as turnover rose 3,8 percent.
"RevPar (income per available room) rose 3,3 percent to 55,1 euros, with accommodation accounting for around 790 million euros and total gross turnover of 1,080 million euros." says the business association.
Tourist golf followed the trend seen in accommodation, dropping 1,1 percent in the number of rounds sold. In all, 1,347 million laps were sold, «with the average of laps per field being 35,447, the second best record since 2010».
“For 2019, forecasts point to an increase in turnover of around 2 percent, with prices rising 1,5 percent on average. The financial situation of companies is expected to remain at the levels of 2018, while net results are expected to improve slightly», concluded AHETA.
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