Hospitality in Portugal earned 20% more and exceeded 6 billion euros in 2023 – Tourism & Leisure

Revenue in the hotel sector in Portugal continues to grow at full speed. In 2023, hotel establishments in the country earned 6,021 million euros, a jump of 20.1% compared to 2022, year in which less than one billion were made, reveals Informa D&B.

The rise, boosted by Portuguese and, above all, foreign demand, boosted the number of guests to 30 million, a growth of 13% compared to the previous year. Now the number of overnight stays increased by 11% to 77.2 million, according to study numbers.

Foreign tourists continue to represent the largest share of overnight stays, which in 2023 reached 54 million, 14.9% more than in the previous year. Overnight stays by residents in Portugal totaled 2.1%, to 23.4 million.

The British follow the legacy of having the largest number of customers, representing 12.8% of total overnight stays, ahead of the Germans (7.9%) and the Spanish (7.1%).

Last year, the amount billed in the sector, which includes more than seven million establishments – including hotels, local accommodation units, aparthotels, tourist apartments, rural tourism and housing establishments, tourist villages, Quintas da Madeira and inns – has grown in all geographic areas, points out the consultant, with the Azores leading the race (+26.2%).

Next, Lisbon and the North remained on par, with an increase of 24.4% and 24.2%, respectively, ahead of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, which grew 23.2% in 2023.

Regarding the hotel capacity available in the country, Informa D&B points to “significant growth” in 2021 and 2022. “The total number of beds available in December 2022 was around 458 thousand, 13.1% more than in the previous year. Still in December 2022, the number of establishments in operation increased by 13.1% compared to 2021, approaching 7,100”, says the statement sent to newsrooms this Friday, April 26th.

The data reveals a high concentration of hotel activity in the Algarve, with almost 29% of beds available, followed by Lisbon and the north, with around 21% and 18%, respectively, and in the central area, with 14%.

Of this total, just over half of the total beds (53%) corresponded to hotels, followed by local accommodation units, with 18.1%. In other areas, the number of beds in aparthotels represented 10.1%, tourist apartments 7.7%, rural tourism and housing establishments 6.6%. Finally, tourist villages and inns register 4% and 0.9%, respectively.

* Text edited by Leonor Mateus Ferreira