Sal leads Cape Verde’s tourism growth as hotel guest numbers rise 16.5%
Cape Verde’s hotel establishments welcomed more than 1.17 million guests in 2024, with Sal attracting the largest share of arrivals – a strong backdrop for The Resort Group Plc and The Lagoon Resorts’ hospitality offering on the island.
Figures from Cape Verde’s National Institute of Statistics, INE, show that accommodation establishments hosted 1,177,467 guests, an increase of 16.5% compared with 2023. Overnight stays reached 5,651,774 rising 9.7% over the same period.
The growth extended across the year, with every quarter recording increases in both guests and overnight stays compared with 2023. For businesses serving international holidaymakers, the figures demonstrate the continued appeal of Cape Verde and the importance of delivering accommodation and service that encourage visitors to return.
Sal remains the leading destination
Sal accounted for 58.5% of guest arrivals at Cape Verde’s hotel establishments in 2024, comfortably maintaining its position as the country’s leading tourism island.
Boa Vista followed with 24.1%, ahead of Santiago at 8.0% and São Vicente at 4.4%. Together, Sal and Boa Vista represented 82.6% of arrivals, underlining the importance of the two islands to the national accommodation sector.
For The Resort Group Plc, Sal’s position reinforces the relevance of its established resort portfolio. The Lagoon Resorts’ Meliá properties provide different experiences for visitors, from family holidays to adults-only escapes, connecting international hospitality with the island’s coastal setting.
Lisa Kellett, Chief of Staff for The Lagoon Resorts, said: “These figures demonstrate the strength of Cape Verde’s appeal and Sal’s central role in welcoming visitors. For The Lagoon Resorts, they are an encouragement to keep delivering the thoughtful service and memorable experiences that guests expect.
“Growth brings opportunity, but the quality of each stay remains essential. Our focus is on making visitors feel welcome, helping them discover what makes Sal special and giving them reasons to return.”
Britain drives international demand
The United Kingdom remained Cape Verde’s largest source market in 2024, accounting for 29.9% of non-resident guest arrivals and 35.1% of non-resident overnight stays.
The UK’s larger share of overnight stays than arrivals highlights its significance to accommodation demand. British holidaymakers therefore remain an important audience for Sal and for The Lagoon Resorts’ range of holiday experiences.
Other substantial source markets included Germany, which generated 12.8% of non-resident arrivals, Portugal at 11.5%, and France at 10.7%. The figures show that Cape Verde attracts visitors from several major European markets, supporting a broad international customer base.
Overall, non-residents accounted for 94.9% of arrivals and 97.5% of overnight stays. Residents of Cape Verde represented the remaining 5.1% of arrivals and 2.5% of nights.
Hotels dominate accommodation choices
Hotels remained the most popular accommodation category, attracting 81.8% of guest arrivals and accounting for 84.4% of overnight stays.
Apartment hotels followed with 12.7% of arrivals and 13.0% of nights. Residential accommodation and guesthouses represented smaller shares of the market.
This preference for hotels provides a relevant context for The Resort Group Plc’s resort offering. Accommodation, dining, leisure facilities and guest service form the core of the experience, giving visitors the convenience of several holiday essentials within one setting.
The fourth quarter was the busiest period of 2024, recording 389,018 guests and 1,556,427 overnight stays. That represented approximately one-third of annual guest arrivals, illustrating the importance of the final months of the year to Cape Verde’s tourism businesses.
Building lasting appeal
INE reported an average stay of 4.6 nights, compared with 5.0 nights in 2023, while the national bed occupancy rate increased to 60%. These measures provide additional context: guest numbers grew strongly, although average stays became shorter.
Kellett added: “Behind the statistics are people choosing Cape Verde for their holiday. Our responsibility is to make that choice rewarding through comfortable surroundings, warm hospitality and teams who care about the guest experience.
“For The Lagoon Resorts, the ambition is to turn a first visit into a lasting connection with Sal.”
With Sal leading arrivals and hotels remaining the preferred accommodation choice, the 2024 results provide a positive foundation for The Resort Group Plc’s continued commitment to hospitality in Cape Verde.