Speech by the President of the Government - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

Full text of the speech delivered by the President of the Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, on Friday in Ponta Delgada, at the closing session of the Sister Cities Summit:

"It is with great pride that I address you today at the closing session to congratulate you on the success of this worthy initiative promoted by FLAD, as part of the celebration of its 40th anniversary.

This is one of the most thoughtfully designed and engaging celebratory events, both in terms of geography and shared history, as well as in terms of prospects, which we already anticipate will be even more challenging and stimulating, as a positive outcome of this meeting in the middle of the Atlantic, here in the Azores.  

I renew my congratulations to FLAD, in particular its President, Dr. Nuno Morais Sarmento, on its anniversary and for enhancing its visibility in the Azores, a visibility with which we have associated ourselves and will always associate ourselves collaboratively.

Both of us, I, as President of the Government of the Azores, and the President of FLAD, have seen confirmation of the importance of summits such as this as indispensable platforms for strengthening relations between Portugal and the United States of America, between our cities and towns, which are consolidated through cooperation and friendship.

Allow me to take this brief opportunity to talk to you about the Azores, proudly emphasising, first and foremost, our expressive identity and recognition, and finally, a glimpse of what we are already planning for the future of the Azores, in its ever-global context, while taking action locally.

With pride, certainly with excitement but also with objectivity, as it is rooted in internationally recognised evidence, I will tell you about this archipelago and Eegion, endowed with Political Autonomy, which stands out in the Atlantic for its beauty, authenticity and, above all, its commitment to sustainability - the Azores.

In a world where tourism is growing exponentially, sometimes becoming a threat to the very territories it seeks to celebrate, the Azores have always followed a different path. A demanding but deeply necessary path: the path towards sustainable tourism.

We are nine islands that, despite their geographical distance from each other and their remoteness from the major continental centres, have taken on the challenge of growing in balance with nature.

Here, we understand that preservation is not a luxury — it is an obligation to forthcoming generations and our identity.

We are an international benchmark for sustainability on land and at sea. And we want to confirm this status every year, all the time.

In 2019, the Azores became the first archipelago in the world to achieve the "Sustainable Tourism Destination" certification according to EarthCheck criteria, an international recognition confirming the commitment to responsible environmental, social, and economic practices.

And this is not just a seal — it is the reflection of a collective effort involving political power, entrepreneurs, farmers, fishers, tour guides, schools, and every citizen who chooses to protect rather than exploit.

If we were the first, and that was and is a source of considerable pride, even more significant is the fact that we are now the only archipelago in the world certified with the Gold seal. The scientific basis for this certification, which involves the collection and analysis of about 400 sustainability indicators, is subject to annual on-site audits in a hierarchical chain of seal ratings, and we have steadily climbed the ladder of recognition towards the top, which is the Master rating.

We are fortunate to live in a territory where volcanoes and the sea have shaped breathtaking landscapes: lakes in ancient craters, "fajãs" that defy gravity, trails winding through hydrangeas, and a living ocean that is home to more than 20 species of cetaceans. Nonetheless,  it is our responsibility to ensure that this natural wealth is not lost under the weight of unconscious tourism.

In the Azores, tourists are encouraged to be travellers, not consumers. They are asked to respect the rhythms of nature,  taste local products, engage with authentic communities, walk in silence, observe without disturbing and learn rather than extract. This has been and continues to be our proposal: tourism with soul and quality that prevails over quantity.

Fortunately, this has been recognised in other assessments of our achievements.

I will briefly mention some of these recent recognitions:

The Azores were distinguished in the “Europe's Leading Adventure Tourism Destination 2020” category. 

“The Twenty Best Places For Americans To Live, Invest, Work In Europe” - Braga, Algarve and the Azores are among the 20 best European destinations for Americans to live, invest and work, according to criteria such as quality of life and health care.

In 2022, they were considered one of the best cycling destinations in Europe.

For the third consecutive year, the Azores won the award for Europe's Leading Adventure Destination in 2022 by the World Travel Awards.

In 2023, Condé Nast Traveler magazine ranked the Azores among the top 10 best islands in Europe, and we won the World Travel Awards' Best Adventure Destination in the World award.

This year, 2025, we have seen the recognition of "Best Adventure Tourism Destination in Europe 2024" and Best Adventure Destination in the World in 2024 by the World Travel Awards.

For us, sustainable development is not the enemy of progress — it is its improvement. The Azores have proven that it is possible to grow responsibly. Investment in electric mobility, incentives for organic farming, protection of marine reserves and the ongoing training for professionals in the sector are some specific examples of this commitment.

The world needs guiding lights.

And the Azores are now one of those guiding lights — a territory that shows that it is possible to do things differently and do them better.  Sustainability is not an obstacle but rather a competitive advantage. Respecting the land, the sea and space is the best way to value ourselves.

When it comes to protecting the ocean, the Azores are leading the world by example. Leading by example.

The United Nations Conference on Oceans recognises leadership in the anticipated compliance with the SDGs.

Ocean ecosystems are threatened by climate change, pollution and intensive exploitation.

The Azores Sea contains unique natural values that must be protected.

National and international policies set targets of 30% protection:

2020 - European Biodiversity Strategy 2030

2021 - National Sea Strategy 2030

2022 - UN Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework

In the Azores, we do not just follow, we lead the way. We are at the forefront.

The Network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Azores is the largest in the North Atlantic and, in our view, the most effective tool for the protection and recovery of marine life.

The use of the best scientific information and community involvement ensure its proper implementation and management.

The future we envision for the Azores is one of relevance, respect, recognition, appreciation, and reward for the natural assets and heritage that they bring to the country, Europe and the world.

Yes, we are great and important in territorial domains. A vision for those who value the sea and space, and associate them with science, research, innovation, technology, sustainability, and intergenerational solidarity. A vision that aspires to a value-based economy, replacing a mere resource-extractive economy. 

 We aim to be both actors and beneficiaries of future policies on the blue economy, the space economy and the scientific and technological changes associated with them, in a future where climate, energy and digital transitions will be relevant to everyone and no one should be excluded from them.

In the art of digital communication, our geography and our deep sea, covering a large area of the exclusive economic zone, are valuable for the increasingly urgent transatlantic crossing of smart fibre optic submarine cables.

All of this represents the future, challenges and opportunities for progress in the Azores.

As a tourist destination, I invite you not only to visit the Azores but to understand them.

Living in harmony with nature, listening to its silences, recognising in our people an example of balance between tradition and modernity.

The Azores do not want to be a mere travel destination. They want to be a model for the future.

As for our transatlantic relations, I quote again from the opening remarks by Azorean writer Daniel de Sá: "The community is not just a neighbourhood: it is building a future together."

In sustainable tourism. In scientific cooperation in the Atlantic.

In renewable energy sources. In marine technologies.

In technological niches in communication. In digital technology.

I am confident that we will be able to achieve this.

I wish you every success in continuing the fruitful work that has begun here.

Thank you very much!