Praia, April 7, 2025 (Lusa) - The UK last year remained the main source market for tourists in Cabo Verde, the National Statistics Institute (INE) announced on Monday, confirming that the total number of guests in hotel establishments in 2024 was 1.2 million.

As well as remaining the main source market, the UK also generated the longest average stay, of 5.8 nights, according to INE.

The UK accounted for 29.9% of all non-resident tourist arrivals at hotel establishments, followed by Germany (12.8%), the Netherlands (11.6%) and Portugal (11.5%), the figures show.

Hotels continue to be the most popular establishments, with 81.8% of total arrivals.

The island of Sal remained the most popular with tourists, with 58.5% of arrivals, followed by Boa Vista (24.1%), Santiago (8.0%) and São Vicente (4.4%). The remaining islands accounted for 4.9% of arrivals.

In 2024, hotel establishments welcomed 1,177,467 guests, which represents an increase of 16.5% compared to 2023.

Overnight stays totalled 5,651,774, an increase of 9.7% compared to the previous year.

In March, the president of the Cabo Verde Tourism Institute, Jair Fernandes, had already predicted that the archipelago would surpass the 1.2 million guests mark by 2024, highlighting the growing interest in the destination, especially from European tourists.

Tourism remains the engine of growth for the Cabo Verde economy, with revenues expected to exceed €500 million by 2024, representing more than 70% of exports, according to a report from the International Monetary Fund.

RS/ARO // ARO.

Lusa