These are some of the key findings from a study characterising the profile, motivations, and behaviour of visitors to the region, produced by the University of Évora (UÉ) for the Regional Tourism Entity (ERT) of Alentejo and Ribatejo.
The study, presented in Évora, involved conducting 2,000 surveys: 800 during the low season (between November 2024 and April 2025) and 1,200 during the high season (from August to October 2025), with a sample split of 68% residents of Portugal and 32% visitors from abroad.
According to the research, the visitor profile is balanced between men and women; the majority are married or in a civil union, hold a university degree, are employed by others, and have a monthly income between 2,001 and 4,000 euros.
Coordinated by Joana Lima, Maria do Rosário Borges, Jaime Serra, and Noémi Marujo, the study reveals that, on average, visitors stay at the destination for at least two nights and spend approximately 133 euros per person per day.
During the low season, the majority of respondents (30.6%) indicated plans to stay in the Alentejo for two nights, whereas during the high season, 27.8% expressed an intention not to stay overnight in the region.
Most visitors arrive from Europe, followed by the Americas; among Portuguese visitors, the Greater Lisbon area represents the majority.
Tourists visit the Alentejo region to rest, explore, learn, and enjoy landscapes and safety, relying on recommendations or online research, according to the study.
Tourists consider monuments and nature the region’s key features, with gastronomy preferred in the low season and beaches in the high season.
Tourists are most satisfied with Alentejo’s natural heritage, safety, and local hospitality, according to the report.
Most respondents visit as couples or families, and for the first time, 60% in the low season, 63.4% in the high season.
Most first-time visitors intend to return, and prefer travelling to and within Alentejo by private car.
The survey, conducted both in person and online, has a 4% margin of error and a 95% confidence level.
The sample size was calculated from 1,608,826 overnight guests in Alentejo in 2023.