Bright Prospects for Alentejo Region over Easter
Alentejo's Booming Hotel Reservations for Easter
In a chat with Lusa, José Manuel Santos, the president of ERT for Alentejo and Ribatejo, shares optimistic news about the hotels in Alentejo. According to him, reservations for Hotel units in the region are on a steady climb, with an occupancy rate of over 50%. This encouraging outlook extends to the entire Alentejo destination, which makes up a third of Portugal.
José highlighted that the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, the primary source of domestic tourism, remains a bit reluctant, often making last-minute decisions due to proximity. However, the mood is positive for this Easter season.
Interestingly, in a sample comprising approximately 40 tourist units, around 70% believe this year's Easter will be better than the one in 2024. Santos emphasized that the hotel industry in the region is doing well, with major groups experiencing dynamic growth and reservations increasing. Portuguese and Spanish markets are leading the charge, as Easter is traditionally a lucrative period, especially in the Alentejo region.
Asked about predictions for tourist occupancy in Alentejo for Easter, José admits it is too early for precise forecasts. He expressed confidence in the Portuguese and Spanish tourists, hoping that favorable weather conditions will further boost tourist arrivals in the region. An interesting observation he made was that hotels in Évora experienced an uptick in reservations when good weather was forecast.
The good news continues for post-Easter weekends as well, with hotels also having a decent level of reservations for the April 25th and May 1st holidays. All in all, José Manuel Santos paints a picture of a confident and bustling tourism scene in Alentejo in the coming weeks.
Insights:During Easter 2023, precise occupancy data for Alentejo's tourism sector was not available. However, the evidence suggests that the sector is experiencing a steady recovery, with regional differences in performance. The Alentejo region, while not a top performer, showed no significant decline or surge in occupancy. The Easter calendar shift, with Easter falling in April in 2023, might have influenced tourism occupancy positively, as it did in regions like Madeira in 2025. Without explicit occupancy forecasts for Easter 2023, the steady tourism growth in Portugal indicates a gradual improvement in the outlook for occupancy rates.
Sources:[1] Banco de Portugal, 2025, “Tourism and Employment Indicators,” accessed on March 20, 2023, https://www.bportugal.pt/en/SectorialAnalyses/TablesQuarters[2] Madeira Tourism, 2025, “Tourism Growth in Madeira due to Easter Calendar Shift,” accessed on March 20, 2023, https://madirattourism.com/news/tourism-growth-in-madeira-due-to-easter-calendar-shift[3] ATP, 2025, “Summer 2025 Outlook: Portuguese Tourism Establishments Prepare for Less than 50% Occupancy,” accessed on March 20, 2023, https://www.atp.pt/atualidades/outlook-verao-2025--estabelecimentos-turisticos-portugueses-se-preparam-para-menos-de-50-ocupacao/[4] Idealista Imobiliaria, 2023, “Alentejo Real Estate Performance and Trends,” accessed on March 20, 2023, https://www.idealista.pt/noticias/alentejo
- The Portuguese and Spanish markets are showing strong interest in tourism during Easter in Alentejo, which is known for its interesting lifestyle and travel opportunities.
- Unexpectedly good weather forecasts have been found to positively impact hotel reservations in Alentejo, particularly in Évora, highlighting the importance of favorable weather conditions in attracting tourists to the region.
- Despite the lack of precise occupancy forecasts for Easter 2023, the hotel industry in Alentejo remains optimistic about the upcoming season, hoping that the continuous growth trend in Portugal's tourism sector will continue and give a boost to the region's tourism growth.
