Tourism in the Azores has increased by 8.2% as 509,000 people have stayed overnight in the month of September. Compared with last year, this marks an increase for this year. This data is shared by the Regional Service of Statistics (SREA).
Azores Record More Tourism
Regional Service of Statistics (SREA) has reported that the first 9 months of the year have recorded more tourism in the region. The statistics show that the region recorded 3.5 million people who visited the country for overnight stays. This marks an increase of 11.2% as compared to the same time last year. A tourist report from SREA stated:
In September, in all tourist accommodation establishments (hotels, apartment hotels, tourist apartments, guesthouses, local accommodation units, and rural tourism units) in the Azores, 509.3 thousand overnight stays were recorded, a figure higher by 8. 2% to that registered in the same month.
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The total number of customers in the region was 1.1 million, which is 8.2% more than last year. An average stay from the customer is recorded to be 3.31 nights during their stay in the region. This marks an annual variation rate of 2.8% which is much better than the previous few years. For the month of September, the overnight stays by tourists who lived abroad were recorded as 382,000 people. These numbers represent tourists who are living abroad. It marked an increase in the annual comparison of 11.8%. The local market has fallen by 1.5% which makes the total of 127300 overnight stays.
Tourists From Foreign Countries
Portugal is one of the dream destinations for spending your holidays. Having said that, Azores is considered as one of the popular places within the country. This year, tourism has increased in the Azores by a whopping 8%. The first spot is taken by the United States of America which serves as the biggest tourist market for Azores. 64800 people from the United States were recorded for overnight stays in the first nine months of this year. It also includes 17% of overnight stays by residents who live abroad.
The second spot for international tourists in the Azores is taken by Germany. 64500 people have stayed overnight which marks a 16.9% out of all the tourists. Although fewer Germans visited Portugal this year, it still takes the second place. The third spot is taken by Spain, the neighboring country of Portugal. The Azores recorded 62300 people to have stayed overnight which marks 16.3% out of all the tourists. It makes a 34.2% year-on-year increase for Spain.
Some countries have more highest annual growth rates than Spain. The markets which had the highest annual growth were the United Kingdom (48%) and the Czech Republic (56.6%). Countries that have fewer tourists in the Azores are Hungary (-31%) and France (-10.6%). The Regional Service of Statistics (SREA) has released the stats for the month of September as stated:
The hotel industry accounted for 52.4% of all night stays (266.9 thousand), followed by local accommodation, with 42.5% (216.2 thousand), and tourism in rural areas, with 5.1% (26.2 thousand).
More Overnight Stays In Portuguese Islands
There are two types of accommodation for tourists: hotels and places for vacation rentals. Both these types have made up 94.9% of the total overnight stays in the country. All the islands in the region showed growth except the islands of Faial (-2 %) and Graciosa (-9.6 %). Most of the number of overnight stays among all islands occurred on the following islands:
- Flores: 21.8% increase
- Santa Maria: 12% growth
- São Jorge: 9.4% increase
- Pico: 9.2% increase
- Corvo: 8 to 9% growth
- Terceira: 8.6% increase
- São Miguel: 7.2% growth
Rural tourism in the Azores witnessed a significant annual increase (26.5%) for several overnight stays. These numbers represent the statistics for the month of September, which are more than 3 times that recorded for local accommodation. Apart from that, the biggest archipelago in the region, São Miguel witnessed a 67.1% increase in overnight stays. This number represents stays in both hotels and local accommodations. The following is the list of the greatest number of overnight stays:
- São Miguel Islands: 324100 overnight stays (67.1%)
- Terceira Islands: 62300 overnight stays (12.9%)
- Pico Islands: 32100 overnight stays (6.6%)
- Faial Islands: 28900 overnight stays (6%)
The total earnings for the hotel sector amounted to 25 million Euros for this month. This accounts for 17.8% of the total earnings and the average income per room is 112.6 Euros. Rural tourism received 2.7 million Euros as part of international tourism. The average income per room is 91.8 Euros. Some of the local accommodation suffered due to high-profile hotels. Although it is not mentioned in the reports 14.6% of local accommodations had no incoming guests during the month of September.
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