Imovirtual reports traffic surge to raise hopes of Portugal holiday season

Portugal: Real estate and property management portal Imovirtual has reported a surge in user traffic from European countries outside of Portugal, which suggests travellers are optimistic about their chances of taking a holiday in the country this summer.

Data shows that user traffic increased by 38 per cent for the seven days ending 19 May compared to the same period in April. In the same period, users from the United Kingdom increased by 34 per cent, 41 per cent from Brazil and three per cent from Switzerland.

Cities and tourist destinations such as Lisbon, Faro, Porto and Braga are being actively scoured by travellers who are searching for a rental property, either on a short- or long-term basis. All of those destinations have reported a decline in rental property prices, making them affordable destinations to visit and relocate to.

Joao Fernandez, the head of Algarve Regional Tourism Board, has predicted that international interest will resume as of mid June, as visitors from both within and outside of Portugal seek a getaway once restrictions are eased across the country.

Portugal first started to ease lockdown measures on 4 May with a three-phase plan to reopen the country’s economy.

Beaches, meanwhile, are set to open in June with health regulations in place to ensure visitor safety is paramount. The Algarve is said to be experiencing only minor effects from the coronavirus, placing the region in an ideal position to slowly open its economic and social activities.

The findings by Imovirtual come hand-in-hand with airlines such as WizzAir and Ryanair announcing that they will be resuming flights to and from Portugal from June [WizzAir] and July [Ryanair].

Such data suggests that prospective visitors are confident in returning to Europe’s hotspot with the intention to experience a summer holiday season this year. With airports such as Faro International Airport enforcing vigilant health and safety measures, Portugal is preparing to welcome holidaymakers whose yearning for travel has only intensified during the lockdown period.

For more information, visit the Imovirtual website here.