Data from the Cape Verdean National Statistics Institute (INE-CV) reveals that 233,721 people chose Cape Verde as a tourist destination in the first quarter of 2019. The number is 8.5% higher than that recorded in the same period last year.
The number also reveals that hotel establishments welcomed 18,372 more tourists in the first three months of the year compared to last year.
The data also shows the lodging preferences of the tourists who visit the country. According to the INE-CV, they prefer hotels, which represent 85.7% of total entrances in the country. The other tourists are divided into pensions (5.1%), residences (3.9%) and other types of accommodation (3%).
The Island of Sal continues to be the one with the highest number of tourists. The place is responsible for 45.3% of total tourist arrivals in Cape Verde. The Island of Boa Vista (29%) and Santiago (10.6%) are, respectively, with the second and third position.
Most tourists come from mainland Europe. The United Kingdom (22.4%), France (13.3%), the Netherlands (12.6%) and Germany (11.5%) are the main markets for tourists.
The British also lead the list of tourists who spend more time visiting the country during the first quarter of the year. They are 7.5 nights on average, while the Italians stayed, on average, 6.2 nights.
+ The INE-CV also published the Survey on Tourist Expenses and Satisfaction (IGST) in recent days. Sampling research was conducted in 2018 at Cape Verde’s international airports, as passengers await return flights. http://ine.cv/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/relatorio-igst_2018_2-opiniao-sobre-o-texto.pdf