“With the reservations already made, but also the expectation of last-minute reservations, the outlook is very good”, stated André Gomes, who believes that, by the end of the year, the Algarve will reach 20 million overnight stays.

Still without rigorous data on reservations, he addressed, in statements to Lusa, the “very positive” expectations for the Algarve’s New Year’s Eve in light of the feedback collected from associations representing the sector and some hoteliers.

“Some agents said they worked very well this year-end period. Last week, I was with one or two hoteliers and one of them, for example, told me that it was completely full for the end of the year”, pointed out the president of Turismo do Algarve.

This expectation, he added, also exists due to the good footfall in the national market that the Algarve hotel sector has already registered during the December holidays.

Demand from the national market is “stronger and more pressing” during the festive period, although very subject to last-minute bookings, taking into account the climate and motivations for visiting provided by hotels and local authorities, he considered.

He highlighted Portimão and Albufeira among the main “motivations for visiting, with Christmas villages, entertainment for children and a countless number of initiatives”.

Other municipalities present a traditional offer related to the end of the year and Christmas, such as the nativity scene in Vila Real de Santo António, and a salt nativity scene, in Castro Marim, as an example.

A concert by Orquestra do Algarve, with maestro Martim Sousa Tavares, is also planned in the arrivals area of Gago Coutinho Airport, in Faro, on December 21st, with free entry.

In addition to the usual foreign issuing markets, such as the British and Irish, André Gomes highlighted that the Algarve is registering “very large growth” in the North American, Italian and French markets, which should continue to continue during the festive season.

Given these data, the person responsible believes that hotel occupancy in the Algarve on New Year's Eve will rise compared to last year, following the “level of growth” seen between January and October 2023.