Comparing June 2013 to figures just in for June 2014, the overall average occupancy rate for the Algarve’s hotels was 72.7%, the same as last year and a disappointment to the regional hoteliers association.
The main decreases in tourists were from the Irish (-1.1%) and the Portuguese (-0.6%) with the cheery Dutch up slightly (+0.4%), and the Germans (+0.2%).
The best performing areas were Tavira (+12.8%) and Portimão/Praia da Rocha (+3.9%). The main decline was in Lagos/Sagres (-7.4%) and the top destination of Albufeira (-3.5%).
The Vilamoura/QuarteiraQuinta do Lago zone recorded the highest average occupancy rate at 80.0%.
The lowest occupancy rate was in Lagos/Sagres at just 64.5%. Albufeira recorded an average occupancy of 73.2%.
By category, occupancy levels in 5 star hotels and apartment hotels were up (+2.1%). The main decreases occurred in 3 star tourist villages and tourist apartments (-6.2%) and 5 and 4 star ones (-1.3%).
Disappointingly, turnover in this vital stood still year on year.
With pressure on the unlicensed rental sector, the management of the Algarve's hoteliers association had hoped for a shift towards holidaymakers choosing hotels as many villas are now not showing up on rental websites, either because they have been withdrawn from the rental market or due to owners relying on repeat bookings as they ponder whether it is worth going legal.
