There were 8.6 million overnight stays in Portugal in the local tourist accommodation during July. The number represents an increase of 4.8% compared to the same period in 2019, and 90.1% compared to July 2021, the National Statistics Institute (INE) reported last week.
2.9 million of the overnight stays came from domestic tourism and the remaining 5.7 were foreign guests. Compared to the same period of 2019, domestic tourism increased by 15.8% in July.
On the other hand, figures show that 3 million overnight stays in Portugal were recorded in July, a rise of 6.3% on pre-COVID-19 levels and 85.4% on the same month last year.
However, the Algarve, traditionally the tourist hub in Portugal, has yet to reach the pre-pandemic figures. The statistical office reports that “only the Algarve recorded a decrease (-4.5%)” compared to July 2019, despite hosting 33.1% of all overnight stays nationally, followed by the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (22.7%), the North (15.6%), the Autonomous Region of Madeira (10.5%), and the Centre (10.0%).
The analysis indicates that the most significant growth in the number of overnight stays by foreign visitors in tourist accommodations was in Madeira (+21.0%), North (+14.9%), and Centre (+10.6%).
“Total revenues increased 131.9% to €682.1 million and room revenues reached €535 million, a growth of 138.8%” compared to July 2021. There were “27.6% increases in both” compared to levels in the same month of 2019.
Between January and July this year, “overnight stays in Portugal increased by 194.3% (+58.5% in residents and +406.2% in non-residents)”, INE says. It adds that “compared to the same period in 2019, overnight stays decreased by 4.4%, a consequence of the decrease in non-resident overnight stays (-9.4%), as those of residents grew by 7.8%”.
In the first seven months of 2022, revenues “grew by 239.4% in total” compared to the same period last year, and a 10% increase compared to the first seven months of 2019.
“In the first seven months of 2022, and encompassing accommodation in general (tourist accommodation establishments, camping, holiday camps and youth hostels), there were 15.5 million guests and 40.9 million overnight stays, a growth of 167.5% and 176.9%, respectively,” INE says.