With Portugal preparing for further austerity measures in 2013 there has been some good news in the tourism sector of Portugal with air traffic at ANA airports through the country increasing in September.
A report from ANA airports, the airport management company for Portugal, showed that the level of passengers in September using ANA airports rose by 2.8% in comparison to figures for the same period in 2011.
Almost three million people traveled through ANA airports in September 2012 with an increase in passengers in both the normal forms of air travel and in the low cost travel sector.
The increase in passengers in cumulative terms for passenger traffic was 1.5% while low cost air passenger traffic grew by 4.3% to over 321,000 passengers in September.
The Algarve only saw a small increase in passengers during September with only a 0.2% increase in the number of passengers but in Porto the number of passengers increased by 2.1%.
The largest rise in passenger numbers was seen in Lisbon with 4.8% more passengers coming through the airport this September compared to last year.
ANA noted that there had been growth in the markets in France, Germany and the Netherlands while the national airline of TAP and low cost airlines made up the majority of traffic.
A statement from ANA said that in August TAP Portugal processed 36.7 percent of the air traffic, followed by Irish low cost airline Ryanair with 13.6 percent and closely by another low cost carrier easyJet with 12.1 percent resulting in these three companies processing at total of 62.4 percent of all passengers through ANA airports.
Traditionally in the Algarve the busiest time of year for Faro airport in July and August when families from across Europe come to the Algarve during school summer holidays to enjoy the beaches, hotels and great summer weather, however the months of September and October usually attract a number of golfers to the region.
The golf tourists coming to the Algarve have been an important factor in trying to reduce the seasonality of the Algarve as a destination but the not so impressive numbers from faro airport in September goes to show that industry experts may well be right in their worries that the rise in taxes on golf courses are putting off golfers from coming to the region for a golfing holiday.
A new promotion to try and encourage golfers to the Algarve has just been launched at faro airport in association with the tourism board of the Algarve and Superbock, offering golfers a free beer when in the Algarve.
