Tourism in Portugal Grew by Over 500% in February, Official Data Shows

According to data published by the Portuguese Statistics Institute (INE), accommodation facilities in the country received 1.2 million guests during the second month of the year, with those spending 2.9 million overnight stays. These rates represent increases of 507 per cent and 527.1 per cent, respectively, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The increasing tourism rates of February of 2022 exceeded those of the previous month when surges of 182.3 per cent in guests and 185 per cent in overnight stays were recorded. However, tourism in the Iberic country lags behind the pre-pandemic levels, specifically with February 2020, when no COVID-19-related restrictions weren’t yet imposed.

There is 21.2 per cent in arrivals and 23.1 per cent in overnight stays yet to be reached, as data by INE shows. According to the same, 36 per cent of tourism accommodation establishments were closed or weren’t offering their services in February – 5.6 per cent fewer than in January, when 41.6 per cent of establishments were inactive.

Furthermore, in January, 853,200 guests and two million overnight stays were recorded in Portugal with enhanced progress in the domestic market, which recorded 857,700 overnight stays and the external markets reached 1.1 million, showing increases of 104.5 per cent and 308.7 per cent, respectively.

In comparison with the corresponding time in 2020, which represents the pre-pandemic levels, there were declines of 20.1 per cent recorded in the number of overnight stays of residents and 47.9 per cent in non-residents.

“In January 2022, considering all means of accommodation (tourist accommodation establishments, camping and holiday camps, and youth hostels), 912,300 guests and 2.2 million overnight stays were recorded, corresponding to increases of 181.3 per cent and 166.5 per cent, respectively,” the press release issued by the authority regarding January’s tourism activity, reads.

The industry’s total revenue amounted to €106.4 million in January, with 71.4 per cent or €76 million coming from accommodation alone. However, when compared with January 2020, total revenue dropped by 39.1 per cent, and revenue from accommodation decreased by 38.8 per cent.

Nonetheless, the average revenue per available room (RevPAR) was €15.6 in January, cheaper than the previous month when it stood at €21.5. As a result, the average daily rate (ADR) amounted to €65.4 in January while being set at €73.8 in the previous month. At pre-pandemic levels (January 2020), the RevPAR was €24.9, and the ADR amounted to €67.2.