Dominican Republic, Mexico and Brazil: Portuguese will travel (even) more on New Year’s Eve
“Despite being more expensive, trips for the New Year’s Eve period are growing by up to 20% compared to last year, according to national tour operators. There are already sold out for a series of destinations such as Salvador and Maceió, in Brazil, in addition to Madeira, Cape Verde or Mexico”, wrote Expresso, in December 2023. It added the news that Brazil, Cape Verde, Madeira and the Caribbean were the destinations that lead the ‘top’ of best-selling trips to celebrate the end of the year, “at levels that this year reach new records”, according to a round carried out by Expresso with several national tour operators.
Increase compared to 2023
A year later, the Portuguese Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies(APAVT) indicated that bookings for the end of the year are going well, with expected growth in relation to 2023, and with traditional destinations remaining as stars. “The end of the year is selling at a very good pace, leading us to believe that more will be sold again than last year”, said the president of APAVT, Pedro Costa Ferreira, in statements to Lusa, on the sidelines of the 49th Congress of association, which ends this Saturday in the Spanish city of Huelva.
Asked about the destinations that Portuguese people prefer, Pedro Costa Ferreira stated that “the market is adult and eclectic” and that, therefore, “there will be trips for all tastes”.
Dominican Republic, Mexico and Brazil
Even so, the president of the association that represents travel agencies and tour operators says that when it comes to long-haul travel, “the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Brazil” stand out, the latter being a traditional final destination. year for many years. More recently, Cape Verde “will maintain an important participation”, while in Portugal, the Autonomous Region of Madeira continues to be one of the Portuguese’s preferences for spending the last night of the year. “Madeira will be a huge highlight, as is tradition. But, without a doubt, the end of the year operation will sell well throughout Portugal”, concludes Pedro Costa Ferreira to Lusa.
In recent years, by tradition, Madeira and Algarve tend to lead choices, but Alentejo, Lisbon, the Center, the North and the Azores have developed alternative offers in recent years that have been increasingly attractive. As for national tourists traveling abroad, Brazil, Cape Verde, São Tomé, Cuba, Disneyland Paris, have been some of the most sought after destinations.
João Carlos Santos
Charters and special campaigns
In a quick tour of the offers from the main tour operators, it is possible to confirm your bet on markets such as Brazil, Mexico and Cape Verde. Soltour announced flights at the beginning of October charters direct flights from Lisbon to Cancún, Mexico, between December 19, 2024 and January 3, 2025, to cover not only New Year’s Eve, but also Christmas. The reference value for seven nights, on an All Inclusive basis, leaving on December 19th, is €2343. If the match is on the 26th, the value increases to €3411. Another option is the island of Sal, in Cape Verde, where the seven-night package (All inclusive), leaving on December 21st, starts at €745. If the flight from Lisbon takes place on December 28th, the package fare starts at €1056.
Another operator, Solthropo, had a special New Year’s Eve campaign on sale until October 23rd, which promoted national destinations (Azores and Madeira), Brazil and Cape Verde. Currently, the seven-night package (accommodation and breakfast) on the island of Sal, departing from Lisbon by flight charter on December 27th, the advertised prices start at €1270. If the option is Brazil, more specifically Recife, the same regime and number of nights, leaving Lisbon on December 26th costs from €1556. To Madeira Island, Soltropó promotes charter flights from Lisbon and Porto, on December 28th and return on January 1st, 2025, with four nights’ accommodation, for €834 (base price). As for the island of Porto Santo, the charter operation flies from Lisbon on December 30th and returns on January 2nd, 2025. The reference values for three nights start at €667.
For Brazil and accommodation at the Vila Galé Touros resort, in the state of Natal, the operator Sonhando has a special flight direct from Porto, on December 26th. The seven-night All-Inclusive program starts at €2,902. Agência Abreu maintains the Expo Abreu initiative in force until November 4th, with discounts of up to 60% on reservations for various destinations during Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Therefore, within the scope of this promotion, a New Year’s Eve package to Salvador da Bahia, in Brazil, from €1466, departing from Lisbon on December 30, or Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic, from €1811 is announced. , departing on December 26th and returning on January 2nd,
Historic buildings in São Luís do Maranhão will be converted into Portuguese group hotels
VG
