Summary:
Algarve records 5.2 million tourists in 2024, breaking previous records.
Gago Coutinho Airport in Faro sees over 9.8 million passengers this year.
Tourism growth driven by resident (+1.3%) and non-resident (+3%) visitors.
20.7 million overnight stays reported nationally, showing a 1.9% increase.
Golf rounds in Algarve hit 1.46 million, a 5% growth from last year.
Algarve Achieves Historic Tourism Milestone
The Algarve has achieved its highest ever number of guests in 2024, with tourist accommodations welcoming 5.2 million visitors, as reported by the Algarve Tourism Region (RTA) this Friday. This figure surpassed the previous record of 5.1 million guests recorded in 2023.
In addition to this remarkable guest count, the Gago Coutinho International Airport in Faro has also set a historical milestone, exceeding 9.8 million passengers in 2024.
The RTA emphasizes that the Algarve's tourism is once again breaking records, reinforcing its status as Portugal's leading tourist destination. The 2024 guest count reflects a 2.6% increase compared to the previous year, showcasing the region's strong appeal, driven by both resident (+1.3%) and non-resident (+3%) visitors.
In terms of overnight stays, preliminary data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) indicates a 1.9% rise in national tourism activity for 2024, totaling 20.7 million overnight stays. Although still slightly below the pre-pandemic record of 20.9 million, the Algarve remains the top tourist destination in the country, registering the highest number of overnight stays.
The region also saw a positive trend in room occupancy rates, which increased by 0.5 percentage points to 58.6%. Furthermore, the Algarve holds the position of the second region with the longest average stay, at 3.95 nights, just behind the Madeira Autonomous Region.
The RTA highlighted that over 9.8 million commercial passengers passed through Faro Airport in 2024, marking a 2% increase from 2023. The British market was the largest contributor, with 4.4 million passengers (+0.3%), followed by Germany with 1.13 million (+9.7%), and Ireland with 967,000 (+7.9%).
Additionally, the Algarve recorded a new high of 1.46 million rounds played on golf courses in 2024, representing a 5% increase over the previous year. October (179,000 rounds), April (162,000), and March (153,000) were noted as the months with the highest demand for golfing in the region.
André Gomes, President of Algarve Tourism, stated that the Algarve is one of Europe's most complete tourist destinations, and the records achieved reflect tourist confidence in the region, alongside the positive impact tourism has on the local and national economy.
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