The tourism sector in the Alentejo, a determining factor for the region’s economy, has shown an upward trend throughout the year, both in terms of overnight stays and revenue.
Although the final figures are not yet known, it is already possible to say that 2023 was “the best year ever” for tourism in the Alentejo.
This was confirmed by José Manuel Santos, President of the Alentejo and Ribatejo Regional Tourism Authority, speaking to Rádio Campanário,
He began by telling us “that this is true both in terms of overnight stays, where by October 30 the Alentejo had already reached the number of overnight stays for the whole of 2022, around 3 million, and also in terms of the number of guests, with more than 1.6 million, the number recorded in 2022, and in terms of overall revenue, there was a new record, exceeding 250 million.”
José Manuel Santos also pointed out that the Alentejo region leads the way in the number of “Portuguese overnight stays”, with “the Alentejo in a counter-cycle, since there has been a nationwide decrease in Portuguese overnight stays in hotels and the Alentejo region is growing in this area.”
For the President of the ERT, the Alentejo “is gaining market share”. As for the number of foreign guests, in 2023 the number will be “higher than in 2019.”
As far as the more economic indicators are concerned, although they can only be quantified next year, the outlook is very “positive”.
With regard to the priorities for 2024, José Manuel Santos, President of the Alentejo and Ribatejo Regional Tourism Authority, highlights the “consolidation of external demand in order to ensure that this demand returns to a level previously achieved”.
As for the domestic market, which is Alentejo’s largest tourism market (worth around 2/3), the ERT’s focus is on “promoting and boosting the region among the Portuguese.”
