The Summer of 2026 brought varied results for Porto Santo's business owners. While some restaurants experienced lower-than-expected demand during certain periods, other tourism-related businesses, such as bars, reported a positive season, aided by favorable weather conditions.
Filipa Drumond, from the restaurant O Rochedo, described the season as "a bit short" of expectations, with June and July seeing low turnout and a weaker start to August. The latter half of August and the Colombo Festival brought improvements, although restaurants felt less footfall.
In contrast, Pedro Rodrigues, owner of Bar do Henrique, and Andrea Leão, manager of Lambecas, reported a "very good" and "really very good" summer, respectively, with strong tourist influx and sales boosted by events and demand for local products. Hotels and other tourist services also saw significant activity.
