The summer was positive for tourism in the Alentejo region, which grew by 3.6% in the first eight months of the year, despite the sector's national difficulties, the president of the regional entity revealed.
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20/10/2026
by
Lusa
O summer was positive for tourism in the Alentejo region, which registered a growth of 3.6% in the first eight months of the year, despite the difficulties of the sector at national level, revealed the president of the regional entity.
In statements to the agency Lusa, the president of the Regional Tourism Entity (ERT) of Alentejo and Ribatejo, José Manuel Santos, made a “positive balance” of the summer, although recognizing that there is “a slowdown in external tourist demand, which affects all regions”.
“ But in the accumulated period of the first eight months, the region is growing in sleep 3.6%. And we are growing 4% on the national market and 3% on the international market,” he said.
According to José Manuel Santos, the Alentejo “is the second fastest growing region of the country, after Porto/North [and] that is growing the most for tourist purposes”.
“ The region that is growing most in the income of available rooms is also Alentejo, which means that our tourist accommodation is having a very interesting ‘performance’”, reinforced.
In other words, José Manuel Santos continued, despite the difficulties, “the Alentejo is managing to grow in value” and, in August, had the average rate per room sold higher, “after the Algarve”.
These results led the president of ERT to ensure that the region maintains the goal of achieving its “best year ever” in 2026.
“ We know it is a difficult and demanding year, both in the Portuguese market and in international markets, but we trust that, in the last quarter, with all the initiatives and events we will have, we will manage to get there”, he said.
In this context, José Manuel Santos highlighted the fact that the region will host five major international operator conventions in countries such as Brazil, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland by the end of the year.
Alongside this, he added, the second wave of the campaign “The Alentejo is not explained”.
“ As I say, we did not take the ‘foot off the accelerator’”, he stressed.
For the president of ERT, the objective is to “seek that the effects of tourism growth, in value and also in quantity, can ideally reach all parts of the territory”.
“ We know that this is not always possible, because Alentejo is a very large region, with very different hotel operations. But we believe that the effort will be rewarded ", concluded.