Just when it was all looking so positive for the Algarve’s recovering hotel sector, the January figures show that the average occupancy rate per room fell 4% last month.
Turnover dropped 1.6% compared with the same month 2014, with an occupancy rate of 27% compared to 31% a year ago when the recession was biting deeper.
The data collected by the Association of Hotels and Resorts in the Algarve showed that British visitors staying in the Algarve's hotels were down 25% and the Germans were down 17.4%. These two groups accounted for the bulk of the poor figures.
The largest decreases in numbers were recorded in Vilamoura / Quarteira / Quinta do Lago which saw a drop of 17%, and in Albufeira where 6% fewer tourists booked in for some winter sunshine.
Tavira bucked the trend with 16% more visitors staying in the area's many fine hotels.
Hotels in the Monte Gordo / Vila Real de Santo António zone recorded the highest room occupancy rate at an impressive 62%, while the Lagos / Sagres area showed the poorest at a meagre 16%.
The Association said that the turnover decreased by 1.6% over the same month of 2014, and added that of course the data related only to establishments in operation and does not take into account the hotels that remained closed during January.
