Tourism in the Azores reached a new historic high in 2025, recording 4.5 million overnight stays, a 4.5% increase compared to 2024, according to preliminary data from the Serviço Regional de Estatística dos Açores (SREA). This marks the fourth consecutive year in which the archipelago has set a new record for overnight stays.

In total, the region registered 4,509,613 overnight stays, an increase of 192,323 compared with the previous year. The Azores outperformed the national tourism trend, where overnight stays grew by an average of 2.2%, making the region one of Portugal’s strongest-performing destinations in 2025.

Growth was also reflected in visitor numbers. The Azores welcomed 1.4 million guests, up 3.7% year over year, while the average length of stay edged up to 3.32 nights. Demand remained strong throughout most of the year, and by November, cumulative overnight stays had already surpassed the total recorded in all of 2024.

The expansion was driven in part by the diversification of accommodation options. Rural tourism posted the fastest growth, rising 10.3% to 217,100 overnight stays. Local lodging also expanded significantly, increasing 8.3% to reach approximately two million overnight stays. Hotels, while growing more modestly at 0.9%, continued to anchor the sector in volume, accounting for 2.3 million overnight stays.

The strong annual performance, however, contrasted with a cooling trend toward the end of the year. During the final four months of 2025, tourism activity slowed, culminating in December, when the region recorded 124,200 overnight stays, a 5.1% decline year over year. This drop ran counter to the national picture, where overnight stays increased by 3% in the same month.

The downturn was partially offset by a rebound in domestic tourism. After eight consecutive months of decline, the Portuguese market grew 9.3% in December, accounting for 53.3% of total occupancy that month.

In Correios dos Açores, Natalino Viveiros-director