According to data released by the Cape Verdean National Statistics Institute (INE) for the first quarter of this year, hotels in Cape Verde welcomed more than 325,000 guests in the first quarter of 2025, a 7.2% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

Overnight stays totalled 1,657,403, an 8.8% increase. The average length of stay for visitors increased from 4.7 to five nights, indicating longer stays by tourists in the archipelago, according to the Cape Verdean INE. The INE also indicates a 4.0 percentage point increase in the bed occupancy rate, reaching 66%.

Tourist demand in Cape Verde continues to be predominantly international, with 94.7% of guests, 307,779 of whom are foreigners. The United Kingdom maintains the lead with 26.9%, followed by France with 12.8% and Germany with 11.1%.

In terms of geographic distribution, Sal Island remains the main destination, accounting for 56.9% of arrivals and 57.7% of overnight stays. Boa Vista comes in second, with 21.6% of arrivals and 32.7% of overnight stays, and Santiago with 8.1% of arrivals and 3.8% of overnight stays.

The Cape Verdean Statistics Institute (INE) also reveals that most tourists opted for hotels, which accounted for 79.6% of guests and 84.6% of overnight stays, with apartment hotels being the second most popular category.