In the last few years, many travel buzzwords have come to the forefront. We have had ‘workation’ and ‘bleisure travel’, predominantly centred around professionals working remotely around the globe.
However, the ‘staycation’ is perhaps the most interesting. While travel was limited, a staycation allowed someone to visit a different part of the country, while still embracing the holiday spirit. Despite travel returning to normal, these types of holidays are still a popular choice in Portugal. As with any trend, the SandyBlue team always works closely with our owner partners to help keep their villas in front of multiple audiences.
Just how popular are staycations in Portugal?
In a recent study by Jetcost, Portuguese nationals were surveyed about their travel plans this year; 58% revealed that they prefer national destinations. Interestingly, the number of respondents who preferred beach destinations was also 58%.
So, it is clear that Portuguese nationals are still eager to experience sunshine and beaches this year – some of them just want it closer to home. The Algarve is a top choice for these national tourists. Looking at our own research, website traffic from Lisbon and Setúbal continues to rise. Further data from Jetcost suggests that July is currently the most popular period for these staycations. This audience should not be overlooked – simple analysis and marketing ideas have helped us grow within the ‘staycation’ market.
How to target the staycation market
As always, the SandyBlue reservations specialists observe trends throughout the year to help us target varying markets. Capturing the audience at the right time is the key to success. It is important to note this when it comes to the Portuguese market. Unlike other key audiences who book in advance, the Portuguese who are looking for a staycation instead prefer to wait until much closer to their holiday dates.
Targeted promotions are also important for this market. Not only can we display our adverts to potential customers in specific Portuguese locations, but we can also differ our property portfolio offering. Apartments are a popular choice, while larger villas also see demand. It is all about adapting and diversifying our approach so that our owner partners see the rewards of these travel trends.
Preparing for the 2023 summer season
With the peak season fast approaching, our team is excited to welcome tourists from around the globe to experience the Algarve. For the ‘staycation’ trend, we expect to see many enquiries now that the summer is only a few weeks away.
By Joe Mountain
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Joe Mountain is founder of Algarve villa rental specialists SandyBlue.
289 392 236 | www.sandyblue.com
