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Nota de Imprensa
April 4, 2023
Regional Tourism Inspectorate report detects fewer illegal accommodation establishments in 2022
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.
April 4, 2023
Regional Tourism Inspectorate report detects fewer illegal accommodation establishments in 2022
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.
Nota de Imprensa
February 11, 2022
Regional Government creates working group for revision of Legal Framework on Whale Watching Activities
The Regional Government of the Azores informs that the preparation of a proposal for the full revision of the Legal Framework on Whale Watching Activities has already begun, through a working group specifically created for this purpose. It is composed of representatives of the Regional Secretariat for Transport, Tourism and Energy, through the Regional Directorate for Air and Maritime Transport, the Regional Directorate for Tourism and the Regional Tourism Inspectorate, and the Regional Secretariat for Sea and Fisheries, through the Regional Directorate for Sea Affairs. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in demand for whale watching, while this activity has become increasingly important in the diversification and competitiveness of tourism in the Region. The qualitative development of maritime-tourism activities, as well as the protection of the sea and its truly sustainable use, are strategic priorities set out in the Programme of the XIII Government of the Azores. Whale watching activities stand out as one of the most relevant to value creation in this area, thus deserving special attention in its basic structuring with a view to its future sustainability. In view of the fact that the current Legal Framework on Whale Watching Activities dates back to 1999, with occasional amendments in terms of its regulations, which did not follow a systematic approach, there is an urgent need for its full revision. This process has already begun but was not completed or approved in previous legislative periods. The work now being carried out aims to analyse and propose a revision of this legal framework where specific parameters will be considered, namely the impact of the activity on the animals and the relations between the maritime areas and the density of the operations, among other aspects. Representatives of whale watching companies will be involved in this process, taking into account their vast experience in this matter, as well as the scientific community, given the studies that have been developed on this subject. Whale watching is an activity of particular importance for the identity of tourism in the Azores: In fact, it is one of the most successful cases of sustainable development in the world, through the reconversion of an economic activity that has evolved from whale hunting to an activity that fully enhances the value of a natural resource. Therefore, whale watching is a sustainable tourism product of excellence with international recognition.
February 11, 2022
Regional Government creates working group for revision of Legal Framework on Whale Watching Activities
The Regional Government of the Azores informs that the preparation of a proposal for the full revision of the Legal Framework on Whale Watching Activities has already begun, through a working group specifically created for this purpose. It is composed of representatives of the Regional Secretariat for Transport, Tourism and Energy, through the Regional Directorate for Air and Maritime Transport, the Regional Directorate for Tourism and the Regional Tourism Inspectorate, and the Regional Secretariat for Sea and Fisheries, through the Regional Directorate for Sea Affairs. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in demand for whale watching, while this activity has become increasingly important in the diversification and competitiveness of tourism in the Region. The qualitative development of maritime-tourism activities, as well as the protection of the sea and its truly sustainable use, are strategic priorities set out in the Programme of the XIII Government of the Azores. Whale watching activities stand out as one of the most relevant to value creation in this area, thus deserving special attention in its basic structuring with a view to its future sustainability. In view of the fact that the current Legal Framework on Whale Watching Activities dates back to 1999, with occasional amendments in terms of its regulations, which did not follow a systematic approach, there is an urgent need for its full revision. This process has already begun but was not completed or approved in previous legislative periods. The work now being carried out aims to analyse and propose a revision of this legal framework where specific parameters will be considered, namely the impact of the activity on the animals and the relations between the maritime areas and the density of the operations, among other aspects. Representatives of whale watching companies will be involved in this process, taking into account their vast experience in this matter, as well as the scientific community, given the studies that have been developed on this subject. Whale watching is an activity of particular importance for the identity of tourism in the Azores: In fact, it is one of the most successful cases of sustainable development in the world, through the reconversion of an economic activity that has evolved from whale hunting to an activity that fully enhances the value of a natural resource. Therefore, whale watching is a sustainable tourism product of excellence with international recognition.