Portugal tourism revenue rises 5.8% in May

Portugal’s tourism revenue rose 5.8% year on year to €755.7 million in May, according to data published by the national statistics office INE, in a sign of continued strength in one of the country’s key sectors. The increase was supported by higher visitor numbers and stronger domestic demand.

Tourist accommodation recorded 3.3 million guests in May, up 3.9% from a year earlier, while overnight stays increased 2.8% to 8 million. Resident travellers were the main driver, with overnight stays by Portuguese residents rising 7.6% to 2.1 million, while non-resident stays edged up 1.1% to 5.9 million.

Room revenue, which covers the amounts charged for overnight stays in hotels and other tourist accommodation, reached €575.1 million, up 4.8% year on year. In regional terms, overnight stays grew most in Alentejo, up 10%, followed by northern Portugal, up 6.7%. Madeira and the Oeste e Vale do Tejo region posted the sharpest declines, at 2.2% and 1.5%, respectively.

The Algarve, Greater Lisbon and the North remained the country’s main tourism hubs, together accounting for 69% of all overnight stays. Among Portugal’s 10 largest foreign source markets, Brazil and Germany posted the strongest growth, at 9.3% and 8.6%, while the UK remained the largest market with a 19% share. The US ranked third with an 11.2% share after a 5.2% increase, while France recorded the biggest drop, down 11.3%.

Average revenue per available room stood at €84 in May, up 0.7%, while average daily rate rose 2.4% to €130.9, according to INE.

Originally published at Eco.pt