Within a year, Lisbon will be home to thousands of faith-driven believers. The streets of the capital will serve as the stage for the largest event ever held in the country and for visitors of more than 40 nationalities who have a weeklong appointment with Pope Francis. There are still 338 days to go until World Youth Day (WYD), which takes place between August 1 and 6, 2023, and preparations are already well underway in several sectors.
Tourism is running out and especially in the hotel industry it is now possible to foresee the huge impact the event will have in the country, with hotels already fully booked for the dates of the event. The meeting between thousands of young people and the highest representative of the Catholic Church is scheduled for Lisbon, but the shards of faith will spread across the country, with Fátima being the second city most affected by WYD and the agitation will not be limited to the event week. Many tourists, especially those coming from more distant destinations, will extend their stay throughout August to get to know the country better.
“Demand is very high for the WYD period, from Lisbon to Fátima, and will even increase in other areas. And not just for the week itself, but also for the periods before and after. And there are even sold-out hotels for this one.” data”, guarantees the executive vice president of the Portuguese Hospitality Association (AHP), Cristina Siza Vieira. Tourists from all corners of the world are expected, but for now, in addition to Europe, where Spain, Italy or Poland stand out, the markets of the United States, Latin America and Asia are important.
The accounts have not been closed, but looking at the examples from the past, a serious scenario can be foreseen on all fronts. The head of the hoteliers association recalls that in 2011, Madrid hosted two million people for this event. For the time being, 1.5 million young people are expected in Portugal, but it does not stop there. “We are still talking about thousands of families, journalists, representatives of the clergy and religious orders of the Church on the five continents,” lists Cristina Siza Vieira, who expects a significant impact on the country’s hotel industry. “If the occupancy rate stays at 100%, the impact will certainly be huge, but also in terms of media coverage that Portugal and Fátima will have. The calculation of the city of Krakow for the equivalent of advertising during WYD 2016, without social media , was 140 million euros,” he says.
hotels full
Twelve months before the event, reservation requests are being made to guarantee overnight stays and hotels are already completely sold out, especially in the capital. This is the case with the Lisbon Marriott Hotel, which has already closed the first week of August 2023, but the requests keep coming.
“We have already confirmed reservations since 2019 as WYD was confirmed for 2022 and later changed to 2023 due to the pandemic. We continue to receive many requests for these dates but at the moment we are not accepting reservations. We will accept if there is a cancellation ”, reveals the director general of the four stars. Elmar Derkitsch explains that strong demand also drives up rates. “There is a big price increase for both groups and individual customers. Because groups are negotiated well in advance, because of the associated services, such a big increase will not be registered. Individual customers will probably avoid Lisbon during these days,” he adds .
The Luna Hotels & Resorts group, which owns a portfolio of 26 hotels in the north to the south of the country, also confirms the increase in rates driven by the huge demand. “The increase in the average price is already reflected in the vast majority of units, both in Lisbon and Fátima. We expect the high demand for Lisbon to spill over to areas where we have units, as is the case with Abrantes,” anticipates the group’s commercial director. , Sonia Coixao.
In Fátima, the optimistic scenario is confirmed by the city’s largest hotel group. “We expect a strong impact in the weeks before and after the trip. Some tourists just stay for these logistical reasons. Others stay because they come from distant countries and this is a great opportunity to get to know the country. Portugal.” , guarantees Alexandre Marto Pereira, CEO of the Fátima Hotels group.
The Eurostars Hotel Company has eight hotels in Lisbon and one in Cascais and the forecast is for full occupancy. The international group, with presence in 17 countries, explains that the impact of the event is also felt outside the national sphere. “WYDs also have a very positive impact in other cities outside Portugal, in emblematic places of pilgrimage such as Santiago de Compostela, Rome or Seville, as many participants will stop and take advantage of the journey to visit them”.
Air capacity is a challenge
There are still no paper studies or calculations on the economic impact of WYD in the country, nor in tourism. The Lisbon Tourism Association (ATL) cannot provide figures, but states that the impact will be muscular. “All tourism services will have greater demand. People will consume in restaurants, shops, supermarkets, transport services, cultural offer. The event has a structuring effect, which translates into the urban reconversion that will continue beyond and also the huge projection of Lisbon and Portugal,” explains Vítor Costa, Director General of ATL.
Expectations are also high in the center of the country. Pope Francis’ visit to Fátima is stirring not only the city but also the surrounding regions. Turismo do Centro is confident in boosting accounts in the region. “We hope the economic impact will be quite significant. Essentially, we expect gains in the reputation of the Centro de Portugal destination, more overnight stays and more tourist revenues,” he explains.
Despite the optimistic outlook, there are industry constraints that could weigh on the organization of WYD. The capacity shortage at Portela airport is once again under discussion. “The truth is that many visitors come in via Madrid and Barcelona, even in the absence of air response capacity in Lisbon, and from there they leave for the Iberian tour. In addition, the event takes place at the height of the peak season, and August is always a strong month all over the country,” recalls Cristina Siza Vieira.
Alexandre Marto Pereira, on the other hand, does not hide the doubts that are beginning to arise. “How many passengers can the airports of Lisbon and Porto receive? Can TAP increase the number of flights? Will buses and trains be coming?” asks the businessman, asking the government for answers.
“I hope the government will study ways to reduce the restrictions we have, namely in air access to the country,” says the CEO of Fátima Hotels. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ourém – Fátima Business Association (ACiso), Purificação Pereira Reis, recalls the problem of lack of manpower facing the country, in the most diverse sectors. “The shortage of human resources will be the biggest challenge. For example, many buses will be needed, but it is very difficult to find certified drivers and without them the supply will be insufficient. These kinds of difficulties are transversal across different areas of activity” , alert.
Source: DN
