THE ALGARVE Tourism Board (RTA) has predicted that this summer will experience an increase in tourist activity of around four per cent. This proves that, despite a brief slump, tourism is gradually rising in the region once again, which will come as a relief for so many businesses, which rely so heavily on this industry.
Between January and April of this year, almost one million passengers have landed at Faro Airport, which shows a growth of 7.8 per cent since last year. It is expected that only in October will there be a decline in air traffic. Over the summer, each month’s air travel is expected to be up by an average of 3.5 per cent against last year’s analysis.
Hotel occupancies suggest that there are 25 per cent more Dutch tourists coming to the Algarve, proving that the fierce advertising campaign, launched by the RTA in Holland, has been working, and the money invested will be recouped.
A spokesperson for the RTA said that there is a “moderate optimism” about a rise between three and four per cent in tourism from Britain, Germany and Ireland, which account for the most tourists coming to the region. There has also been a rise in national tourists vacationing here.
Golf will always be a great asset for tourism in the Algarve and figures already show signs of the sport’s augmentation. In the first quarter of this year, 396,668 rounds of golf were played, which are 22,456 more rounds than last year.
