Despite gloomy forecasts and the seasonal closure of record numbers of the Algarve’s hotels, those that remained open did good business in December, takings were up on last year anyway with revenues in the Algarve resorts increasing by 2.2 % in the month. This may not sound much but it is better than the alternative and shows a measurable positive trend.
The increased take in December, according to the ever-cheerful Association of Hotels and Resorts in the Algarve, was due to an increase in average occupancy rate for the quarter of 26.1%, this was a welcome 4% above the figure for the same period in 2012.
As for nationalities, the German and Spaniards were top dogs, increasing theiur numbers by 43.3% and 27.4 % respectively.
The largest decline was from the internal Portuguese market which fell by 9.8% despite a vastly increased promotional spend by the Algarve Tourist Board within Portugal to attract nationals to the Algarve in December.
Top areas for tourists were Vilamoura, Quarteira, Quinta do Lago, Carvoeiro, Armaçao de Pêra and Albufeira with not one area in the Algarve recording a drop in occupancy over 2012.
