In total, from one month to the other, 2.6 million more people visited Portugal in March than in February, a rise of 6.3 percent, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE).

Figures released this month show that hotels throughout the country accommodated 2.4 million tourists during the first three months of the year, 2.1 percent year-on-year increase on 2010.

"The results from March are overall positive, and could be associated to the fact that Carnival took place in March this year, while in 2010 it occurred in February", the INE explained.

Both national and non-nation tourists contributed to the rise in figures, which were noticeable in self-catering apartments, guest houses, apart-hotels and hotels, particularly four and five star establishments.

On the other hand, tourist resorts have suffered a 7.1 percent drop in demand, with fewer nights spent in this type of accommodation than in other types.

According to the INE, foreign visitors came mainly from Brazil, France and the UK, which together represented more than 70 percent of all visitors to Portugal in March.

Only the Spanish market dropped, with fewer Spaniards holidaying in Portugal in March than in February.

Region-wise, the INE concluded that there was a "generalised improvement", with the most noticeable rises in visitors being in the Alentejo, Algarve and Madeira.

Fewer people chose to visit the Azores, while British, German and Dutch visitors seeking the Algarve all increased.

In March, hotel establishments took some _119.2 million in revenue, _77.5 million of which from room rates. Both figures show rises in comparison to last year's turnovers, of 3.6 percent and 5.4 percent respectively.

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