[Note: Regarding the monthly release for the reference year 2025, DREM follows Statistics Portugal (INE) in the simultaneous release of the full set of variables for tourist accommodation, now carried out at the end of month n+1. While this timeframe was already applied to guests and overnight stays, the publication of results for occupancy rates and revenue indicators was only done 45 days after the reference period. Now, all data will be released simultaneously each month, with preliminary figures. On the other hand, DREM will continue to release an aggregate that includes hotels, rural tourism, and all local accommodation, regardless of the number of beds. In turn, INE, in its release, excludes local accommodation with fewer than 10 beds. As a result, in this press release, in Em Foco, and the tables published by DREM, the total number of guests and overnight stays will be higher than INE’s figures. For the variables of occupancy rates, rooms, revenues, and personnel costs, the values are consistent with those of INE as these exclude local accommodation with fewer than 10 beds.] 

In March 2025, the overnight stays in tourist accommodation in the Region increased by 5.4% year-on-year

In March 2025, tourist accommodation establishments in the Autonomous Region of Madeira (ARM) recorded 188.2 thousand guest arrivals, generating 976.7 thousand overnight stays. These figures represent year-on-year increases of 2.9% and 5.4%, respectively.

Hotels accounted for 68.9% of the overnight stays (673.1 thousand), registering a 1.8% year-on-year increase. Local accommodation represented 28.7% of the total and rural tourism 2.4%, with respective increases of 15.6% and 0.2% compared to the same month of the previous year.

For comparability with the data published by Statistics Portugal (INE), local accommodation units with fewer than 10 beds must be excluded. According to this criterion, overnight stays in tourist accommodation in the Region recorded a year-on-year increase of 1.8%, in contrast to the national decline of 3.0%. It is worth noting that results may have been slightly influenced by the calendar effect, as Easter fell in March 2024 but will be celebrated in April 2025.

In addition to Madeira, only three other NUTS 2 regions recorded growth in overnight stays: Peninsula de Setúbal (+7.8%), the Azores (+5.1%) and Norte (+0.9%). The largest decreases were seen in Oeste e Vale do Tejo (-7.1%), Grande Lisboa (-5.6%) and Algarve (-5.1%).

The net bed occupancy rate stood at 65.2%, a slight drop of 0.3 percentage points compared to March 2024. In contrast, the room occupancy rate rose to 76.5% (up from 75.2% in March 2024).

The average stay length in tourist accommodation increased to 4.65 nights (from 4.56 in March 2024 The longest stays were once again recorded in hotels (4.74 nights), followed by local accommodation (4.56 nights), while rural tourism registered the lowest (3.58 nights).

Cumulative figures for guest arrivals between January and March 2025 (473.7 thousand; +5.4% compared to the same period in 2024) also showed growth, as did overnight stays, which neared 2.6 million (+7.4% over the same period).

The top ten source markets accounted for 82.8% of total overnight stays in March. Germany stood out with the highest share (22.2%; -2.7% compared to March 2024), followed by the United Kingdom (18.1%), which recorded the same value as in March 2024. The domestic market accounted for 16.5% of total overnight stays and posted a year-on-year increase of 24.6%. In fourth place was Poland (7.7%; +49.7%), followed by France (5.4%; -1.9%).

From January to March 2025, the two main source markets showed opposing year-on-year trends in overnight stays: Germany recorded a 2.1% increase, while the United Kingdom saw a 2.1% decline. The domestic market, the third largest, registered a more pronounced growth of 21.0% over the same period.

Total revenue from tourism accommodation reached 63.2 million euros in March 2025 (+16.5%), with revenue from accommodation rising to 45.2 million euros (+18.1%). At the national level, total revenue showed a marginal year-on-year increase (+0.3%), whereas revenue from accommodation dropped slightly (-0.4%).

In cumulative terms, between January and March 2025, the ARM recorded increases of 20.4% and 22.1% in total and revenue from accommodation, which amounted to 162.6 million euros and 114.6 million euros, respectively.

In March 2025, the average revenue per available room (RevPAR) in tourist accommodation (excluding local accommodation with fewer than 10 beds) was approximately 83.00 euros, representing a 16.1% increase compared to the same month of the previous year. The average daily rate (ADR) in tourist accommodation rose from 95.05 euros in March 2024 to 108.51 euros in March 2025 (+14.2% year-on-year). In the first quarter of 2025, the Region recorded a RevPAR of 72.78 euros (+20.8%), with hotels reaching 78.40 euros (+22.0%). The ADR reached 103.20 euros across all accommodation types (+15.9%) and 105.96 euros in hotels (+15.9%).

Number of rounds played on the Region's golf courses increased by 20.3% in the first quarter of 2025

According to the Golf Courses Survey, 30 329 rounds were played on the three golf courses in the ARM from January to March 2025, an increase of 20.3% year-on-year. This activity generated around 1.5 million euros in revenue (+9.3%). Non-members accounted for 84.1% of rounds (81.9% in Q1 2024), mainly from Nordic countries, Germany, and the UK. Hotels sold 67.0% of the rounds, golf courses 19.5%, and tour operators 13.4% (compared to 66.1%, 21.4%, and 12.5% in Q1 2024, respectively).

Cruise ship transit passengers increased by 16.5% in the first quarter of 2025

According to data provided by the Ports Administration of the ARM, 258 880 transit passengers were recorded on 105 cruise ships docked in the ARM ports in the first quarter of 2025. Compared to the same period in 2024, this represents 28 more calls and a 16.5% increase in transit passengers.

For more information, please consult:

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