The Algarve’s hoteliers association reports that January tourism figures were up 16% year-on-year with a consequent welcome rise in income.
The provisional figures are for an increase in tourist numbers of 15.9%, up 4.6 points, to a 33.6% occupancy level.
This figure is better than for every January since the 36.7% occupancy rate recorded in 2007.
Tourists from Germany, Holland and Ireland led the increase with Monte Gordo/Vila Real de Santo António beating the other Algarve regions with a rise of 7.9%.
Tourist villages and apartments and 4 and 5-star hotels were the favourite places to stay, up 15%.
The next best areas for tourist numbers were Portimão/Praia da Rocha, up 6.7%, and Albufeira up 5.2% despite the wave of negative publicity in the aftermath of the last November 1st's flooding that damaged much of the lower town’s shop and bar area.