Madeira surpasses the milestone of welcoming over one million tourists for 2023, marking a significant comeback for the Portuguese archipelago's tourism industry following the pandemic slump.
Tourist Accommodation Booms in Autonomous Regions
Latest figures from DREM show a surge in tourist accommodation across autonomous regions, with 221.3 thousand guests in April (+11.8% YoY), leading to around 1.1 million overnight stays (+12.2%) and substantial income growth.
The hotel segment dominated April's overnight stays (66%), increasing 6.7% YoY, while vacation rentals (31.5%) and rural tourism (2.5%) saw healthy rises of 26% and 11.1%, respectively. However, the data may have been influenced by the calendar effect, as Easter was celebrated in April this year, whereas it took place in March in 2024.
For more accurate comparison with national statistics, DREM advises excluding accommodation with less than 10 beds related to guest and overnight stay variables. The net occupancy rate per bed in the region reached 70.3%, a rise of +1.5 percentage points, with the occupancy rate per room reaching 80.4%.
The average stay in tourist accommodation was 4.51 nights, remaining stable compared to the previous year, with the highest values recorded in hotels and vacation rentals.
Top Source Markets
The top 10 source markets accounted for 80.4% of the total overnight stays, with Germany and Portugal leading the pack. Germany registered 19.4% of the total with a growth of +5.6% compared to April 2024, while Portugal saw an impressive 39.9% increase, overtaking the UK, which held 14.5% (-2.1% YoY). France and Poland followed in fourth and fifth places.
Revenue Increases
The average revenue per available room (RevPAR) was approximately 101.33 euros across all tourist accommodation, marking a 24% increase compared to the same period last year.
Over the first four months of the year, 697.5 thousand guests entered tourist accommodation, showing a growth of 7.7% YoY, with the number of overnight stays also increasing by 9%.
Insights and Trends
Tourism data for specific autonomous regions like Macao or others is somewhat limited, but we can draw some insights from general tourism trends:
- Overnight stays and visitor arrivals have increased in many autonomous regions, although the average length of stay has slightly decreased, thereby potentially affecting overnight stay figures.
- Macao's tourism sector has experienced a rise in visitor numbers, with improved accommodations and local attractions leading to increased spending.
- Diverse source markets, including domestic and international tourists, drive the growth in visitor numbers in many autonomous regions.
- The use of technology to manage tourist flow and enhance experiences can attract more visitors and increase overnight stays.
In summary, while specific data on all autonomous regions in 2025 is not fully detailed, the trends suggest a strong recovery and growth in the tourism sector, driven by increased visitor numbers and enhanced tourist experiences. Keep an eye on technology adoption and local improvements to attract more tourists in the coming months.
Portugal witnessed a significant 39.9% increase in overnight stays by tourists, surpassing the UK in the top source markets for autonomous regions, as reported in the latest tourism news. The growth in tourist accommodation and income, as shown by DREM's data, has been fueled by a rise in popularity of lifestyle travel, especially in vacation rentals and rural tourism sectors. These trends indicate a promising future for tourism in Portugal and other autonomous regions, as the sector recovers and continues to grow.
