Portuguese choose Madeira, Azores, Cape Verde and Brazil for end of year and pay more

Madeira, the Azores, Cape Verde and Brazil were again at the top of Portuguese travel preferences at the end of the year. Vacations are selling very well, although they are more expensive, as tour operators told Lusa.

“Sales over the Christmas and New Year holiday period are going quite well, slightly higher than last year, with strong sales anticipation. If we compare the same period in 2022, considering the start of the trip from December 20 to 31, this year the number of passengers will increase by 800,” said Solférias Operations Director Sonia Regateiro to Lusa.

Nortravel CEO Nuno Aleixo and Sonhando Commercial Director Fernando Bandres are also pleased with the sales.

“While we have seen a slower pace of bookings in recent weeks – which is normal as consumers tend to book year-end flights in advance compared to other holiday periods – we are pleased with sales,” he told Fernando. Bandres.

According to Sonhando’s commercial director, his company still has “some capacity for those last-minute customers” so he is confident that it will “end a good sales period.”

The official also clarified that “sales of bookings with departures in the period from December 20 to 31 increased by 47% in passenger traffic and by 82% in billing volume, so there was no drop in sales.”

“However, gross sales margins are starting to reflect greater product competition in the market compared to 2022, but the desire to travel appears to remain very strong, even despite the news and economic forecasts for 2024,” Fernando Bandres said, hinting at to the slowdown that sector officials say can be expected.

Nuno Aleixo said they sold everything, but as a precaution, given the situation, Nortravel adjusted the offer.

“The year has undoubtedly been a very positive one globally and the end of the year will be no exception. The supply that was placed on the market has been completely exhausted, although perhaps the supply is less than in other pre-New Year years. This year we did not rely, for example, on special operations for the Caribbean. If the offer was more correct, then it exactly corresponded to the existing demand, so everything was put together quite well,” he said.

When asked whether the increase in prices for tourist packages is a reality, everyone confirms this.

“Prices have actually increased either due to the impact of inflation in different countries, or due to an increase in “fuel” [combustível] As for the above-ground part. However, we have retained all the announced “charter” flights,” said Solferias’ manager.

This situation was also confirmed by the person in charge of Sonhando, remembering that during the holiday seasons, rates also usually increase in accordance with the law of supply and demand.

“However, we note that outside of this season we have also experienced increased airfare and hotel costs. The operating costs of these companies have increased due to the prices of fuel, raw materials, electricity, etc. Although we do If we try to absorb some of this increase in our (profit) profits, it is inevitable that some of these excess costs will be passed on to the consumer,” explained Fernando Bandres.

In terms of destinations, everyone points to “traditional year-end,” with Nortravel’s CEO calling Madeira “number one in sales” for the company at the moment.

According to Nuno Aleixo, there is still “a destination that four or five years ago was not in great demand, but now is, the island of São Miguel” in the Azores.

“This is quite positive, although we are talking about the Portuguese islands, which have a lot of people, but they are often non-continental and therefore it is often difficult to find products at attractive prices, because other markets [estrangeiros] they tend to have a higher average price,” he explained.

Nuno Aleixo also said Cape Verde was “also a great surprise”, as was significant investment “in Christmas markets” in Europe.

“In our case, and in this order by passenger traffic: Madeira, Brazil, Mexico, Sao Tome, the Bijagos archipelago in Guinea-Bissau, the Spanish Islands, Cuba and Marrakech,” said, in turn, the company’s commercial director Sonhando.

In Solferias, Brazil was the most popular destination this year, according to Sonia Regateiro, followed by Cape Verde, mainland Portugal and Madeira, Disneyland Paris, the Azores and Sao Tome and Principe.