Azores overnight stays fall for a 12th month as Ponta Delgada business group demands action

Overnight stays in tourist accommodation in the Azores fell 3.5% in September compared with a year earlier, to 516,400, according to the Regional Statistics Service of the Azores (SREA). The figure covers hotels, local lodging and rural tourism. Stays have now fallen year on year for 12 consecutive months.

Madeira grew 1.7% in September and Portugal as a whole 2%. From January to September the Azores fell 2.7%, while Madeira rose 2.4% and the country 1.5%. Stays by guests from the Portuguese market fell 9.3% in the first nine months of the year.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ponta Delgada (CCIPD), which represents businesses on São Miguel and Santa Maria, said the responsibility lies entirely with those who manage the destination. It demanded concrete measures and said any response must include changes in the structure of the regional government itself.

The chamber wants more promotion in strategic markets, more and more varied air links, new airlines and routes, and more competition.

In a sample of November and December flights analysed by the chamber, the average Lisbon to Ponta Delgada fare on Azores Airlines and TAP was 455.19 euros. Lisbon to Funchal averaged 275.59 euros on TAP, easyJet and Ryanair, and 122 euros on the low-cost airlines alone. The chamber said a ticket from the mainland to the Azores costs 3.7 times as much as a low-cost ticket to Madeira. According to Açoriano Oriental, it put the fares for a family of four for a weekend at 1,820.76 euros for the Azores and 488 euros for Madeira.

This site reported earlier that an Azores rural tourism group warned of falling overnight stays and that Azores business groups are seeking support for new low-cost air routes.

acorianooriental.pt

radioatlantida.net