The tourism sector in the region began to show signs of reduction even before the start of the low season, according to available statistical data from CCIPD.
In a press release, the organization noted that, according to official data, the total number of overnight stays in the Azores in September 2025 was 521,900, reflecting a year-on-year decrease of 1.2%, while the number of guests dropped by 2.0%, totaling 152,900.
“The data thus demonstrates a downturn trend that confirms previously expressed concerns regarding the impact of access limitations and the destination’s tourism promotion,” according to CCIPD.
CCIPD believes the sector’s performance reflects ongoing structural constraints in the region, notably the insufficiency and irregularity of air connections, which affect mobility and competitiveness, as well as the need to strengthen a more integrated, consistent, and effective promotional strategy aimed at mitigating seasonality.
The business organization representing Santa Maria and São Miguel considers it “crucial to enhance collaborative efforts between public and private entities” to “ensure better connectivity conditions and more effective external promotion, which guarantees stability and predictability for the sector, achievable only through a high demand level for the Azores destination year-round and not just in summer months.”
According to CCIPD, the domestic market recorded the largest decline (-4.6%), while the overall drop in external markets was -0.1%.
Significant decreases were observed in the United States (-9.4%) and Spain (-11.3%).
“Only Germany maintained significant growth (+13.4%), consolidating itself as the main foreign overnight stay market” in September, CCIPD stated.
“Although the total revenue from traditional hospitality increased by 6.2% compared to the same month of the previous year, reaching 26.7 million euros, this growth mainly results from increased average rates rather than an actual rise in demand,” the organization noted.
