Data from the Association of Hotels and Tourist Enterprises of the Algarve (AHETA) regarding hotel occupancy in the region in the last month, indicates that the “average global rate per bed was 29.9%”, a value 10.4% below the figure recorded in February 2019.

Where were people staying?

As for geographical areas, the main increases in occupancy per room were seen in Lagos/Sagres, with an increase of 54.1%, and in Tavira, with an increase of 35.1%, while the main decreases affected the areas of Monte Gordo/Vila Real de Santo António, with a decrease of 39.5%, Carvoeiro/Armação de Pera, with a decrease of 28.0%, and Albufeira, with a decrease of 26.5%, according to AHETA.

“The Faro/Olhão area registered the highest occupancy rate, with 57.7%, while the lowest occurred in the Monte Gordo/Vila Real de Santo António area, with 31.3%”,.

The Algarve business association also stated that, by category, the main drops were in four-star hotels and aparthotels and in three-star tourist villages and apartments, with 25.0% less and 5.9% less, respectively.

In the opposite direction, increases were registered in three and two star hotels (up 25.5%) and in five star hotels (up 14.3%).

“The five and four-star tourist resorts and apartments were the ones with the highest occupancy rate (26.9%). The lowest occupancy occurred in four-star hotels and aparthotels (21.0%)”, added AHETA.

Where were tourists coming from?

The Algarve association also highlighted that the markets where the most tourists came from in February, compared to the same period in 2019, were Portuguese (20.8% more), Spanish (29.2% more) and French (19.2% more), while the biggest declines were felt in the UK (18.7%) and German (36.8%) markets.