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Nota de Imprensa
February 18, 2025
Regional Tourism Inspectorate conducted 535 inspection and detection actions and received 446 complaints in 2024
The Regional Tourism Inspectorate (IRTu), under the administration of the Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, received 446 complaints last year. These included 37 that fell within the remit of other entities, for which reason they were forwarded to the appropriate department. According to data now released by IRTu, among the 409 complaints investigated, besides those registered in the complaints book, 27 were received via the electronic complaints book platform and 35 via the respective electronic complaints system (https://gra.formstack.com/forms/pedido_info). The islands with the highest concentration of tourism services and activities register the highest number of complaints, namely São Miguel and Terceira. The majority of complaints (65.77%) concern tourist accommodation establishments, with 16% focussing on issues regarding the operation/conservation of facilities/infrastructures and 53% on complaints about the provision of services. In 2024, there was a very significant increase in the number of complaints received compared to 2023. This increase is in line with the growth in tourism demand and supply. IRTu conducted 535 inspection and detection actions, covering 216 tourist accommodation establishments and 92 tourist entertainment companies. Among the overall number of actions, 216 were carried out in the area of tourist accommodation (40% of the total). 84 accommodations were found to be illegal, 64 were found to be irregular and 79 detection actions were carried out in places of significant tourist interest. For IRTu, this is a worrying sign as it indicates a considerable number of entities operating without registration/licences. IRTu noted that detecting these situations is becoming increasingly difficult due to some "sophistication" in concealing illegal activities. Nevertheless, it stressed that most situations detected have resulted in corrective actions/legalisation of the situations identified. In 2024, 148 actions were conducted to detect unregistered/licensed accommodation and registered accommodation in irregular situations, through the analysis of various online booking platforms. With a view to detecting (land-based) tourism activities and occupations by unregistered companies or professionals, 79 detection actions were carried out in places of major tourist interest, in addition to ports and airports. One of IRTu's main goals is to help reduce the parallel and/or unregistered economy, in addition to detecting the supply of unlicensed/registered accommodation and the supply of registered accommodation in irregular situations. The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Berta Cabral, defended that "the development of regional tourism depends directly on the quality of the experiences offered. These inspection actions identify and help eliminate inappropriate practices, instilling the best practices and desired standards among operators." The Regional Tourism Inspectorate has intensified its inspections in the tourist accommodation sector, focusing on inspections of registered local accommodations. It has also identified accommodations operating without the appropriate licence or registration and detected irregularities in registered/licensed units, mostly using online monitoring of tourist accommodation booking platforms. Last year was marked by a significant development of the tourist offer in the Azores, with a significant increase in accommodation available, both in tourist developments and local accommodation units. There was also an increase in tourist entertainment activities. Simultaneously, the Azores continued to consolidate its position as a tourist destination of choice, with a significant increase in demand. This growth, fuelled by the archipelago's growing reputation, has contributed to a reduction in seasonality.
February 18, 2025
Regional Tourism Inspectorate conducted 535 inspection and detection actions and received 446 complaints in 2024
The Regional Tourism Inspectorate (IRTu), under the administration of the Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, received 446 complaints last year. These included 37 that fell within the remit of other entities, for which reason they were forwarded to the appropriate department. According to data now released by IRTu, among the 409 complaints investigated, besides those registered in the complaints book, 27 were received via the electronic complaints book platform and 35 via the respective electronic complaints system (https://gra.formstack.com/forms/pedido_info). The islands with the highest concentration of tourism services and activities register the highest number of complaints, namely São Miguel and Terceira. The majority of complaints (65.77%) concern tourist accommodation establishments, with 16% focussing on issues regarding the operation/conservation of facilities/infrastructures and 53% on complaints about the provision of services. In 2024, there was a very significant increase in the number of complaints received compared to 2023. This increase is in line with the growth in tourism demand and supply. IRTu conducted 535 inspection and detection actions, covering 216 tourist accommodation establishments and 92 tourist entertainment companies. Among the overall number of actions, 216 were carried out in the area of tourist accommodation (40% of the total). 84 accommodations were found to be illegal, 64 were found to be irregular and 79 detection actions were carried out in places of significant tourist interest. For IRTu, this is a worrying sign as it indicates a considerable number of entities operating without registration/licences. IRTu noted that detecting these situations is becoming increasingly difficult due to some "sophistication" in concealing illegal activities. Nevertheless, it stressed that most situations detected have resulted in corrective actions/legalisation of the situations identified. In 2024, 148 actions were conducted to detect unregistered/licensed accommodation and registered accommodation in irregular situations, through the analysis of various online booking platforms. With a view to detecting (land-based) tourism activities and occupations by unregistered companies or professionals, 79 detection actions were carried out in places of major tourist interest, in addition to ports and airports. One of IRTu's main goals is to help reduce the parallel and/or unregistered economy, in addition to detecting the supply of unlicensed/registered accommodation and the supply of registered accommodation in irregular situations. The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Berta Cabral, defended that "the development of regional tourism depends directly on the quality of the experiences offered. These inspection actions identify and help eliminate inappropriate practices, instilling the best practices and desired standards among operators." The Regional Tourism Inspectorate has intensified its inspections in the tourist accommodation sector, focusing on inspections of registered local accommodations. It has also identified accommodations operating without the appropriate licence or registration and detected irregularities in registered/licensed units, mostly using online monitoring of tourist accommodation booking platforms. Last year was marked by a significant development of the tourist offer in the Azores, with a significant increase in accommodation available, both in tourist developments and local accommodation units. There was also an increase in tourist entertainment activities. Simultaneously, the Azores continued to consolidate its position as a tourist destination of choice, with a significant increase in demand. This growth, fuelled by the archipelago's growing reputation, has contributed to a reduction in seasonality.
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.