Hotel bookings close to 2019 levels

 In News, Tourism

Bookings for Portugal’s hotels and guest houses is almost back to the record levels seen in 2019 with the Algarve leading the top of the reservations table.

“The forecasts that we have for this summer are particularly good. I think we should soon be at around 90% of levels we had in 2019, with the Algarve leading demand”, said Cristina Siza Vieira, CEO of the Portugal Hotel Association (AHP).
“We always have to take last minute bookings into account, but the numbers so far suggest an excellent summer from a take-up point of view”, she adds.
On the guest house and local accommodation side, bookings also seem to indicate a bumper summer. “Taking into the past two years, the feedback is very positive. People seem to want to travel again, and we clearly seeing this reflected in bookings, so overseas tourists are coming back”, says Eduardo Miranda, President of the Association of Local Accommodation of Portugal (ALEP). “We are finally beginning to finally see a positive return”, he adds.
The Association estimates that the number of night and guest bookings is between 8% and 12% below 2019 numbers, in line with figures estimated by the hotel sector.
The main concern is in terms of air connections, particularly regarding slots that TAP should free up at Lisbon airport. “This worries up somewhat because there is interest from foreigners in visiting Portugal”, he said.