The Algarve is already renowned internationally for its climate, beaches, natural landscapes, leisure activities and gastronomy, but now it can add another accolade.
According to research by travel app Expedia, the southern Portuguese resort region is also highly recommended for a “nothing-cation” – i.e. a warm weather destination where doing nothing and relaxation are the keywords”.
The research was based on a survey of 4,000 US travellers who, following the Christmas-New Year festive season, were keen to plan a “nothing-cation” in January, to recover from the hectic holiday pace.
The Algarve was included on a shortlist of seven idyllic destinations compiled by Expedia’s travel experts. They were recommended for being “far from the crowds and perfect for days spent doing a whole lot of nothing” – not only in January, but throughout the year.
The Algarve was the only European location on the list, being named together with Kauai (Hawaii), Costa Rica, Fiji, Nevis Island (Caribbean), Koh Samui (Thailand) and Sanibel Island (Florida).
According to Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group brands public relations, “There’s a time and place for an action-packed vacation itinerary, but our data shows the first trip after the hectic holiday season calls for a more relaxed agenda. For most travellers, getting the most out of their next vacation means setting aside dedicated time for nothing.
“With the beautiful spring weather just around the corner, the quieter months before summer are a perfect time to visit the Algarve for those looking to escape the crowds.”
Key Trending Destination
The Algarve also ranked highly in another study, by Mabrian, which determined a list of “destinations that will stand out in 2023 for positioning in terms of their tourism offer, connectivity and accommodation”.
Noting that 2022 would be remembered as the year of tourism recovery for many of the most traditional destinations in Europe (including Portugal), the Caribbean and the Middle East, the travel intelligence services company said it had learned that underlying travel demand remained intact once there was a removal of mobility restrictions.
“However, the motivations and interests shown by travellers in this tourism revival have undergone structural changes that have affected trends and are likely to continue into the future. To verify this, we have analysed the global evolution of tourism interests based on the millions of spontaneous interactions of travellers registered on TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel and activities portal.
“This analysis shows us how interest in tourism activities related to natural, active and wellness tourism has clearly increased in importance since 2019, in a trend that looks set to continue to rise. As such tourism products such as sun and beach or cultural trips, despite being by far the biggest motivation for travel, are slowly giving way to these new activities.”
Bali in Indonesia topped the list, followed by Crete (Greece’s largest island), while the Algarve completed the podium.
Mabrian concluded that the Algarve region “will be popular among travellers this year thanks to its competitive accommodation prices. Algarve also has an interesting mix of tourism products and is expected to have a significant increase in air connectivity, thus permitting travellers from all over the world to reach it easily.”