In the first quarter of 2025, the Azores recorded 540,800 overnight stays in all types of tourist accommodation, 4.7% more than in the same period of 2024. According to the latest data released by the Azores Regional Statistics Service (SREA), the total number of guests was 185,436, a 8.4% increase year-over-year. The average quarterly stay was 2.92 nights, 3.4% lower than last year.

In March 2025, tourist accommodation establishments in the Azores—including hotels, local accommodation, and rural tourism—recorded a total of 244,239 overnight stays, representing an increase of 2.3% compared to the same month last year. The data was released by the Azores Regional Statistics Service (SREA).

The growth was mainly sustained by the increase in the number of overnight stays by residents in Portugal, which totaled 122,632 (a 7.8% increase compared to March 2024) and accounted for 50.2% of the total. Conversely, overnight stays by foreign residents fell by 2.7%, to 121,607 (49.8% of the total).

The number of guests was 78,862, 3.5% more than in the same period last year. The average stay was 3.10 nights, representing a 1.2% decrease.

Hotels accounted for 64.8% of total overnight stays (158,345), representing a 6.6% year-over-year growth. This was followed by local accommodation, with 77,147 overnight stays (31.6%), 8.0% less than in the previous year. Rural tourism recorded 8,747 overnight stays, a 36.1% increase.

In the hotel segment, the average stay was 2.84 nights. The number of guests rose by 6.2%, while the net bed occupancy rate reached 42.6%, 1.8 percentage points more than in March 2024. The average revenue per available room (RevPAR) was €35.82, and the average revenue per room occupied (ADR) was €70.78. Total revenue amounted to €9.1 million, a 10.8% increase.

In local accommodations, foreign markets accounted for 61% of overnight stays, with 47,172 registrations (a 11.9% decrease compared to the previous year). Overnight stays by residents in Portugal fell slightly (-1.0%) to 29,975. The average stay was 3.79 nights. The number of guests was 20,344, 5.4% less than in March 2024.

In rural tourism, there was growth in overnight stays by both residents in Portugal (2,282 overnight stays, a 45.2% increase) and residents abroad (6,465 overnight stays, a 33.2% increase). The average stay in this segment was 3.24 nights. Total revenue increased by 58.7%, reaching € 954,800.

Among the main foreign markets, the United States recorded 26,104 overnight stays (up 3.6%), Germany 22,229 (+3.3%), and Canada 16,569 (+32.6%). In contrast, there were notable declines in the markets of Spain (-43.3%), Slovenia (-66.2%), and Denmark (-48.5%).

In terms of distribution by island, São Miguel recorded 168,464 overnight stays in hotels and local accommodation, 0.7% less than in March 2024. The islands with the highest year-on-year growth in overnight stays were Faial (+24.5%), São Jorge (+17.2%), and Pico (+7.6%). In contrast, Graciosa (-35.2%) and Santa Maria (-21.5%) recorded the largest declines.

In Diário dos Açores, Osvaldo Cabral-director.

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.