Regional Tourism Inspectorate report detects fewer illegal accommodation establishments in 2022 - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas

The Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures reports that the Regional Tourism Inspectorate carried out 348 inspection actions in 2022 and 311 detection actions, processed 188 complaints and 26 reports, and filed six administrative offence proceedings, registering a positive evolution in the sector's compliance with the established regulations.

"The Regional Tourism Inspectorate report shows that the number of illegal accommodation establishments detected has been consistently decreasing since 2018. Indeed, the lowest figure since 2015 was reached in 2022, even though we are facing a scenario of increased supply and demand," stressed Berta Cabral, Regional Secretary for Tourism.

"It is a clearly positive sign, because, in practice, this may represent a decrease in the parallel economy, i.e., there will be more businesses contributing to the common good and there will be fewer and fewer businesses seeking to compete unfairly," she added.

"However, some caution will always be necessary and the sector will continue to be closely monitored," she continued.

The number of complaints also shows a downward trend since 2018, with only 188 complaints registered in 2022, compared to 317 in 2018, 277 in 2019 or 203 in 2021.

"The decrease in complaints is another good indicator, especially when one considers that last year we recorded the highest number of overnight stays ever and that we grew by 6% compared to 2019. It is a clear sign that we are increasing the quality of our services and the visitor experience," says Berta Cabral.

Given the favourable evolution of the pandemic situation in 2022, the Regional Tourism Inspectorate was able to plan and carry out routine inspections of compliance with tourism legislation concerning accommodation, tourism-related activities and occupations, which had been suspended since the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic.

The goals of verification of compliance with safety and hygiene measures, implemented within the scope of the "Clean & Safe-Açores" seal for travel and tourism agencies, tourist entertainment companies, tourist information professionals and tourist accommodation, was suspended from May 2022, due to the cessation of the said programme following the end of the pandemic emergency. Consequently, the remaining goals were substantially reinforced as regards the number of inspection actions carried out, exceeding by far, in some cases, the proposed indicator for those goals.

"The Regional Tourism Inspectorate achieved nine of the 10 operational goals set out in its Activity Plan, eight of which were even exceeded, and only the end of the 'Clean & Safe-Açores' project, for good reasons, prevented all the goals from being fully achieved," the Regional Secretary pointed out.

The Regional Tourism Inspectorate (IRTur) is the inspection service of the Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, responsible for monitoring compliance with the legal provisions on tourism activities and occupations, namely the operation of tourist accommodation, travel and tourism agencies, and tourist entertainment activities.

The promotion and improvement of the regional tourism offer, the decrease of the parallel economy in the tourism sector and the improvement of the quality of the service provided represented the strategic goals pursued by this Inspection Service in the year 2022.