‘Practically zero’ tourism activity in April

  • Lusa
  • 17 June 2020

The pandemic began to have an impact on tourism in March, but in April the consequences were even greater. In the fourth month of the year, there was a 97% drop in the number of tourists.

Statistics Portugal (INE) on Wednesday confirmed there was “practically zero” tourist activity in April, with guests in tourist accommodation decreasing by 97.4% and overnight stays down by 97%, year-on-year, due to the pandemic.

In the quick estimate published on May 29, INE had estimated a 97.1% drop in guests in tourist accommodation (hotels, local accommodation with ten or more beds and tourism in rural/residential areas) and 96.7% of the overnight stays in April compared to the same month last year.

“The information in this highlight, regarding April, reflects the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, both on the behaviour of tourism activity and the amount of primary information available for the compilation of the results presented,” it said.