Tourism in Cape Verde showed a significant recovery in 2022, with a 481.5% increase, reaching a total of 785,272 visitors, according to the central bank’s annual report.
This growth marked a return to pre-pandemic levels and was notably stronger than the global tourism sector’s performance, which saw a decline of 34% in the same year.
The United Kingdom emerged as the primary source of tourists for Cape Verde at 36.6%, followed by Germany, the Netherlands, and Portugal.
Gross revenue from tourism grew by 209.7%, while gross revenue per night decreased by 41.1% to 10,729 escudos per day.
The islands of Sal and Boa Vista remained the preferred destinations, with 92.6% of the total tourist demand, and the number of hotel establishments in the country increased from 292 to 296.
The total bed supply also grew by 4,695 to 28,851, with Sal, Boa Vista, and Santiago leading in room and bed offerings.
Tourism in Cape Verde represents about 25% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), playing a vital role in the nation’s economy.