Visitor arrivals to Cape Verde numbered 116,284 in the three months to June 30, up by 4.8 percent year-on-year, show data from the country’s national statistics bureau, Instituto Nacional de Estatística de Cabo Verde (INECV).

The number of nights spent in hotels increased 4.1 percent year-on-year to almost 746,424 in the second quarter, said the statistics bureau.

The United Kingdom was the main source of tourists to Cape Verde between April and June, accounting for 24.2 percent of the aggregate number of visitors. British citizens were also the ones that stay longest in the archipelago, with an average stay of 9 days.

The other two main feeder markets during the period were Portugal, accounting for 13.1 percent of inbound tourists, and Germany, contributing 12.6 percent of visitors.

In the first six months of 2015, a total of 278,888 tourists visited Cape Verde, up by 2 percent from the prior-year period, show the official data. The number of nights spent in hotels increased 3.5 percent year-on-year to almost 1.76 million in the first half.

The island of Sal is the most popular among tourists, said the statistics bureau.

Macao businessman David Chow plans to build a US$270-million casino resort in Cape Verde, set to open in 2018 at Santa Maria Islet. Cape Verde’s Prime Minister, José Maria Neves, has said that the investment represents a turning point for the country’s tourism industry.