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Slump in British tourist numbers worries Government

AlgarSecoThe Secretary of State for Tourism, Ana Mendes Godinho, admits that the fall in the number of British tourists coming to Portugal is worrying but draws comfort from the work already done to spread the word in other markets.

Ana Mendes Godinho says of the drop in British numbers, "it is a worry because it is one of the main markets," but there already is growth from other nations."

The National Statistics Institute announced that the British market accounted for 23% of the total number of foreigners’ overnight stays in May, a decrease of 9% on top of a drop of 7.4% in the first five months of the year.

Tourism from British visitors to Portugal has been falling for seven consecutive months.

Portugal’s tourist board is targeting the United Kingdom in a campaign to push Madeira and the Algarve as competitive destinations compared to Egypt, Tunisia and Turkey.

Godinho said the special campaign dedicated to these destinations involves communication with travel agents and airlines, while “positioning our destinations for quality and not for the mass market."

The executive president of the Association of Hospitality of Portugal (AHP), Cristina Siza Vieira, admitted that she has been following this market "with particular attention," as the market share represented by the British in the Algarve normally is 28% and in Madeira it is a full 40%.

Vieira says the reason for the fall in numbers is 'Brexit' and the devaluation of the pound, the resurgence of 'sun and sand' competitors and the collapse of airlines such as Monarch, Air Berlin and Niki that removed capacity.

In the survey conducted by AHP, hoteliers expect a significant drop in the number of British visiting Madeira and the Algarve.

On the plus side, the National Institute of Statistics points to a "remarkable growth" of tourists coming from North America, up 18% in May. The Brazilians are helping too with a 10% increase.

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Comments  

0 #19 Paul 2018-07-22 08:22
Quoting AL:
I wished you'd wake up to and follow those "awaken" tourist to wherever they are going. The Algarve is only dull to moaners like you.

We run a boarding cattery in the UK - many of our customers leave their cats here when they holiday in the Algarve, and they all love it!!
+1 #18 Paul 2018-07-22 08:20
We run a boarding cattery in the UK - but trying to retire and move to the Algarve.

We have noticed that enquiries are down this year - we are still full but turning away less people. The exchange rate is definitely a factor, but so are more general economic woes - people do not have as much money for holidays and are being careful with it due to the risks of Brexit.
+2 #17 Denby 2018-07-17 17:39
Quoting AL:
Quoting Jack Reacher:
Tourists are waking up to the fact that the Algarve is both expensive and dull.
I wished you'd wake up to and follow those "awaken" tourist to wherever they are going. The Algarve is only dull to moaners like you.


Spot on ....
+3 #16 AL 2018-07-17 16:10
Quoting Jack Reacher:
Tourists are waking up to the fact that the Algarve is both expensive and dull.
I wished you'd wake up to and follow those "awaken" tourist to wherever they are going. The Algarve is only dull to moaners like you.
-4 #15 Jack Reacher 2018-07-17 11:03
Tourists are waking up to the fact that the Algarve is both expensive and dull. Its hardly a family destination with episodes of violence and unimaginative water slide parks and golf courses. Tourists are finding other destinations way more appealing..and rightly so.
+1 #14 Old Fart 2018-07-16 21:58
So the same headline appeared in the media in Thailand ''slump in tourism numbers'' many in the tourism sector complained, so the geniuses in the tourism department started an ad campaign in China for group holidays to Thailand, so then the hoards of Chinese tourists started entering the country, the tourist numbers rose significantly, the tourism income dropped significantly, everything was arranged and paid for in China, all the money stayed in China, everything was done in groups of many, hotels, transport, tours, restaurants were all Chinese owned, Thai people lost (but the numbers were up).
Read about the most famous beach on this planet, closed to tourists, because of numbers,
Maya Beach on Koh Phi Phi island, also the same in Boracay, the Philippines, single tourists spend more than hoards of group tourists. So there. Go Croatia, oh, its over, what will i do for 4 years ?
-3 #13 concerned lady 2018-07-16 20:37
no i did not witness it, but there are lots of witnesses. One lady that did actually witness it, and said it was police brutality. see her comment on the story of this on the other page.
0 #12 Charly 2018-07-16 20:06
There are 2 things we have to know about GNR and PSP: either they are "gentle" when they smell money (also during a fining process) or they are brutal when no money is involved. Ask David Thomas (safe community Algarve) he can testify this !
0 #11 MiguelJavali 2018-07-16 19:09
Did 'concerned lady' actually witness this fracas?ote name="concerned lady"]I am not surprised, after what has happened to my family and friends, while spending a weekend away, this weekend in the resort of Albufereira. Absolutley shocking police brutalatey, set upon by the GNR for no reason. Called by the bar they were drinking in for being loud, no warning, just attacked them all, even punching a 70 year old man to the floor. Then took Five of the men away, where they were locked up and repeatedly beaten throughout the night. These men are black and blue from the torture they have received. i hear this is a regular thing to happen, this is an absolute disgrace!!!!!!!!!!! , the police are meant to be there to protect us. Would never set foot in this country. Anyone who has any sense should stay away from this country.
+2 #10 Alfred Degrate 2018-07-16 18:40
Us Brits should have wised up by now and be spending our holiday money in north Africa. The same experience, similar prices and a police force that protects you. Never forget that the Portuguese anthem was only written to encourage attacks on the British !
So what must have incensed whoever called the Albufereira Police? The British effectively occupying(!) one or even two tables and having a sing song in 'our country - have they forgotten what 1890 was about'?
The 1960's film Zulu also gives us a strong hint - the Brit soldier saying about the opposition " A good bass, sir, but certainly no tenors". The caller adding reassuringly in their message to the GNR that these British were obviously middle aged, non-military types and well oiled - so give them "the chorus from our anthem". (a code word)

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