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Hotels. This first quarter was the best in the last 10 years

 

19 June 2017

Job creation increased during the period, and will continue to increase due to the number of hotels coming on the market.

In the first three months of the year, Portuguese hotels had the strongest performance of the last 10 years. This conclusion comes from the Hotel Association of Portugal (AHP) and points to the fact that these numbers were not even influenced by the Easter holidays, which occurred in April this year.

In the first quarter, Portugal registered a total of 8.8 million overnight stays in tourism-based businesses, of which 86% were in hotels, hotel-apartments and inns, the association says in the first edition of the AHP Hotel Snapshot, a publication aimed at following trends in Portuguese hotel activity.

Another factor to take note of is the number of guests: there 3.4 million guests in all tourism-based businesses between January and March, representing an increase of 6.4% over the same period last year and an increase of 48% when compared to 10 years ago (1Q07).

Priority markets

Brazilian visitors had the highest growth, with 68% more than the previous year, followed by the Polish with 40% more visitors and the North Americans with a 34% increase compared to the same period in 2016. But in total percentage terms the scenario is quite different. Brazil accounts for 9% of the total amount of visitors, the USA 4% and Poland 2%. Traditional markets like the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and France continue to account for the largest part (49% of the total of external markets).

The data also says that there has been an increase of 18% in the number of tourist accommodation sector employees, for a total of 62,000 workers, a figure that is expected to increase with the 41 new hotels expected by the end of 2017, adding to the 11 that have already opened earlier this year.

The association also points to the performance of tourism sector exports, which grew 17% compared to the first quarter of 2016, leveraged by national exports, contributing to a GDP growth of 2.8% in the first quarter of the year.

Continued growth is expected

According to AHT, bookings for European holidays this year point to travel within the principal European destinations. However, lengths of stay are expected to decrease to an average of 1.9 weeks, with an average budget of 1,990 euros.

Hotels continue to be the primary choice for accommodation for Brazilian and North-American travellers, accounting for 59% and 57% respectively.

“Urban tourism is one of the major trends in demand and the country’s sense of security is one of the main decision criteria, followed by climate, culture and gastronomy,” the document concludes.

Original Story: Sapo Economia – Sónia Peres Pinto

Translation: Richard Turner