Francisco Calheiros, speaking at the opening of the 50th National Congress of the Portuguese Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (APAVT), which began today in Macau and continues until Thursday, remarked on the “positive tourism year” in Portugal.
“The early months hinted this, and the well-known data from summer confirm it. But let’s not be deceived, we are entering a phase of sustainable growth. There’s no stagnation, certainly not, but greater stability. Something anticipated after very strong growth in the post-pandemic years.”
INE data indicates that the tourism accommodation sector recorded 10.5 million guests and 28.6 million overnight stays in June, July, and August, with a 2.2% increase in guests and a 2% rise in overnight stays compared to last summer.
“Are these increases? Yes, they are, but not growth at the levels we’ve seen in recent years,” he noted today.
“However, tourism continues to generate greater value. Generally, and following the usual trend in recent years, total revenues in June, July, and August reached 2.7 billion euros, a 7.4% increase compared to last summer’s peak season,” he cited.
On November 28, the National Statistics Institute (INE) reported that tourist accommodations earned 691.2 million euros in October, a 7.3% year-over-year increase, with non-residents’ overnight stays rising again after two months of decline.
The INE’s quick statistics on tourism activity revealed that the accommodation sector recorded 3.1 million guests (+3.8%) and 7.7 million overnight stays (+2.4%) in October, generating 691.2 million euros in total revenue and 521.5 million euros in room revenue, showing increases of 7.3% and 6.1% compared to October of the previous year.
INE also highlighted that in October, the growth in overnight stays resulted from both an increase in residents’ overnight stays, which rose by 6.4% to reach two million, and non-residents’ overnight stays, which increased by 1.1% after two months of decline, totaling 5.8 million.
These constant behaviors throughout the year were thus highlighted by the confederation encompassing various sector activities.
“Let me highlight a significant figure here: Residents’ overnight stays increased by 5.5% this summer, exceeding nine million. Two conclusions and a warning can be drawn from these figures. Portuguese tourists are growing, and much of tourism growth this year depends on them. Overnight stays are growing less compared to other years, but the tourists we receive create more value as they spend more and contribute to higher-quality tourism,” underscored the president of the CTP.
Francisco Calheiros reiterated a call for what he considers a significant barrier to tourism growth: progress on the new Lisbon airport.
“Strategic decisions need to be made, and essential measures must be enacted quickly for tourism in Portugal to remain a dynamic industry, capable of generating value across almost all regions. Firstly, as I mentioned, there is the urgency of the new airport. Let the tourism data make the Government think and consider the urgent need to decide on an intermediate alternative to the airport in Alcochete. We still have time,” he reiterated.
The CTP has advocated for a rapid intermediate infrastructure advancement to the new Alcochete airport, to be developed in Montijo, a choice considered “effective and more affordable.”
*** Agência Lusa traveled to Macau at the invitation of APAVT ***
