Email:
Phone:
Fax:
Secretaria Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas
Berta Cabral highlights tourism growth in 2025 and reiterates Government’s proactive strategy to overcome challenges
Berta Cabral highlights tourism growth in 2025 and reiterates Government’s proactive strategy to overcome challenges
Secretaria Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas
Berta Cabral says Azores are strengthening their leadership in energy innovation with European EV4EU project
Berta Cabral says Azores are strengthening their leadership in energy innovation with European EV4EU project
Secretaria Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas
Reopening of Salto do Cabrito hiking trail represents “an exemplary collaboration between public entities and the tourism sector”
Reopening of Salto do Cabrito hiking trail represents “an exemplary collaboration between public entities and the tourism sector”
April 16, 2026
Berta Cabral highlights tourism growth in 2025 and reiterates Government’s proactive strategy to overcome challenges
April 10, 2026
Berta Cabral says Azores are strengthening their leadership in energy innovation with European EV4EU project
March 31, 2026
Reopening of Salto do Cabrito hiking trail represents “an exemplary collaboration between public entities and the tourism sector”
News
Nota de Imprensa
April 16, 2026
Berta Cabral highlights tourism growth in 2025 and reiterates Government’s proactive strategy to overcome challenges
The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, Berta Cabral, gave assurances today at the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores regarding the fact that the Regional Government is implementing the necessary measures to protect and revitalise the tourism sector in view of the current global situation. The government official also provided a detailed overview of the market, highlighting the “historic results achieved” and setting out solutions to overcome new international challenges. Berta Cabral noted that tourism has established itself as the main driving force of economic development in the Azores, promoting real convergence with the national average. 2025 consolidated this success with more than 4.5 million overnight stays, a 4.1% increase compared to the previous year, and a significant 9.6% rise in total hospitality revenue. The government official emphasised that the Region was not only the first in the country to recover post-pandemic, but has also managed to attract 16 airlines to operate in the archipelago in 2026, compared to the seven operating in 2019. This entire path towards destination accreditation culminated in the winning of numerous global awards and the achievement of Gold I sustainability certification in 2024 and Gold II in 2025. Despite this period of tremendous vitality, the Regional Secretary candidly acknowledged the current uncertainty facing the global market. Berta Cabral explained that rising interest rates “have impacted household income in the domestic market, whilst geopolitical instability and new internal immigration policies in the United States have severely affected” consumer confidence and growth in what was previously the main outbound market. The government official clarified that this slowdown in demand is not an isolated phenomenon in the Azores, but is also being felt in competing destinations such as Spain, Germany and various regions of Portugal, including Madeira, the Algarve and the Setúbal Peninsula. With a view to addressing this volatility, the Azorean Government is taking a proactive approach and working closely with the sector. The Regional Secretary announced the revitalisation of the Visit Azores Association, whose new board of directors will involve business leaders in shaping the promotional strategy – she also announced that the organisation will be led by Nuno Leandro. Operational plans focused on the summer and winter seasons are already in place, along with co-branding campaigns with operators and the international launch of the “Safe Destination” campaign, aimed at boosting awareness and confidence in the archipelago. Berta Cabral also guaranteed close cooperation with the National Government and Turismo de Portugal (national tourism authority) to ensure adequate air links and the promotion of the Region. In this regard, she pointed out that the current regional Government has increased the annual average funding for tourism promotion to €3.1 million. This figure far exceeds the average of €2.2 million under the previous socialist administration. As she emphasised, the increase in funding was achieved whilst simultaneously clearing a €9 million debt to the banks (from unpaid programme contracts dating back to 2012), whose repayment plan was only due to be completed in 2025. Before concluding her speech, Berta Cabral expressed her firm confidence in the resilience of the business community and the structural strategy set out in the Strategic and Marketing Plan for Tourism in the Azores 2030. The Regional Secretary assured that the Government will lead this new phase with great determination. She concluded: “Just as we weathered the subprime crisis and the pandemic, we will rise to the challenge we face in 2026 and, together with the entire sector, we will overcome it.”
April 16, 2026
Berta Cabral highlights tourism growth in 2025 and reiterates Government’s proactive strategy to overcome challenges
The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, Berta Cabral, gave assurances today at the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores regarding the fact that the Regional Government is implementing the necessary measures to protect and revitalise the tourism sector in view of the current global situation. The government official also provided a detailed overview of the market, highlighting the “historic results achieved” and setting out solutions to overcome new international challenges. Berta Cabral noted that tourism has established itself as the main driving force of economic development in the Azores, promoting real convergence with the national average. 2025 consolidated this success with more than 4.5 million overnight stays, a 4.1% increase compared to the previous year, and a significant 9.6% rise in total hospitality revenue. The government official emphasised that the Region was not only the first in the country to recover post-pandemic, but has also managed to attract 16 airlines to operate in the archipelago in 2026, compared to the seven operating in 2019. This entire path towards destination accreditation culminated in the winning of numerous global awards and the achievement of Gold I sustainability certification in 2024 and Gold II in 2025. Despite this period of tremendous vitality, the Regional Secretary candidly acknowledged the current uncertainty facing the global market. Berta Cabral explained that rising interest rates “have impacted household income in the domestic market, whilst geopolitical instability and new internal immigration policies in the United States have severely affected” consumer confidence and growth in what was previously the main outbound market. The government official clarified that this slowdown in demand is not an isolated phenomenon in the Azores, but is also being felt in competing destinations such as Spain, Germany and various regions of Portugal, including Madeira, the Algarve and the Setúbal Peninsula. With a view to addressing this volatility, the Azorean Government is taking a proactive approach and working closely with the sector. The Regional Secretary announced the revitalisation of the Visit Azores Association, whose new board of directors will involve business leaders in shaping the promotional strategy – she also announced that the organisation will be led by Nuno Leandro. Operational plans focused on the summer and winter seasons are already in place, along with co-branding campaigns with operators and the international launch of the “Safe Destination” campaign, aimed at boosting awareness and confidence in the archipelago. Berta Cabral also guaranteed close cooperation with the National Government and Turismo de Portugal (national tourism authority) to ensure adequate air links and the promotion of the Region. In this regard, she pointed out that the current regional Government has increased the annual average funding for tourism promotion to €3.1 million. This figure far exceeds the average of €2.2 million under the previous socialist administration. As she emphasised, the increase in funding was achieved whilst simultaneously clearing a €9 million debt to the banks (from unpaid programme contracts dating back to 2012), whose repayment plan was only due to be completed in 2025. Before concluding her speech, Berta Cabral expressed her firm confidence in the resilience of the business community and the structural strategy set out in the Strategic and Marketing Plan for Tourism in the Azores 2030. The Regional Secretary assured that the Government will lead this new phase with great determination. She concluded: “Just as we weathered the subprime crisis and the pandemic, we will rise to the challenge we face in 2026 and, together with the entire sector, we will overcome it.”
Nota de Imprensa
April 10, 2026
Berta Cabral says Azores are strengthening their leadership in energy innovation with European EV4EU project
The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, Berta Cabral, highlighted today in Ponta Delgada the strategic importance of the European project EV4EU – Electric Vehicles Management for Carbon Neutrality in Europe – for the energy future of the Autonomous Region of the Azores. The government official spoke at the auditorium of the Regional Civil Engineering Laboratory (LREC) during a presentation session on the results of the project’s Portuguese demonstration site, located on the island of São Miguel. Funded under the Horizon Europe programme, EV4EU “has placed the Azores at the heart of the European debate on innovative solutions for integrating electric mobility into energy systems,” she said. Berta Cabral praised the role of the Regional Directorate for Energy and LREC, emphasising that the inclusion of Azorean entities in an international consortium “demonstrates the existing high technical capacity in the Region and the value of initiatives that bring knowledge, innovation and practical experience to the Azores.” These projects “are not merely academic or laboratory experiments, but rather tangible tools for regional capacity-building, which are essential for bringing the Azores into line with European best practices,” she added, emphasising that “innovation is a key pillar in energy transition.” According to Berta Cabral, “a sustainable future cannot exist without smart technological solutions, new energy management models and the consistent integration of sectors such as energy and mobility,” The government official emphasised that electric mobility represents “a unique opportunity to speed up decarbonisation, increase the efficiency of the electricity system and strengthen the integration of renewable energy sources,” highlighting the Azores’ leading role in this field. Berta Cabral also pointed out the Region’s consistent investment in renewable sources, with a particular focus on geothermal energy, a clear example of the commitment to endogenous resources that reduce dependence on fossil fuels, decrease emissions, and strengthen energy security. In this context, the government official stated that electric mobility plays a central role in the regional strategy, highlighting the Azores Electric Mobility Plan (PMEA) as a key tool in the Government's vision for a cleaner, more efficient and sustainable economy. The EV4EU project “has added significant value to this journey,” she added. EV4EU has developed and tested innovative strategies for the smart management of electric vehicles, with a particular focus on Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) solutions. They demonstrate how vehicles can evolve from mere energy consumers into distributed storage units with the capacity to support the power grid, absorb surplus renewable energy and strengthen the system’s resilience, which is particularly relevant in island regions such as the Azores. According to the Regional Secretary, the demonstration project set up in São Miguel “has helped us to identify limitations, consolidate our knowledge and draw key lessons for future developments.” In this regard, she emphasised that even when implementation is not immediate, “the knowledge acquired is undeniably valuable and provides a solid foundation for new approaches and projects." In a world marked by constant change, Berta Cabral emphasised the urgent need to invest in innovation, energy transition and the diversification of energy sources to build “a more resilient, secure and prosperous future.” The Regional Secretary also highlighted the contribution of projects developed under the RRP, through which EDA has boosted power generation for public supply, whilst private entities, alongside SOLENERGE, have invested in self-consumption. In this context, she emphasised that projects such as EV4EU “prove that the Azores are well placed to play an active role in shaping the energy solutions of the future, contributing to regional, national and European carbon neutrality targets.” “This is a path we are successfully following, recognised internationally, and one that positions us among the best benchmarks for sustainable development,” she said, concluding that the energy transition in the Region “is a strategic plan built in a structured and coherent manner.” Berta Cabral concluded by advocating that “it is vital that public and private entities, and every citizen, assume their role autonomously, knowingly and responsibly in this transformative process.”
April 10, 2026
Berta Cabral says Azores are strengthening their leadership in energy innovation with European EV4EU project
The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, Berta Cabral, highlighted today in Ponta Delgada the strategic importance of the European project EV4EU – Electric Vehicles Management for Carbon Neutrality in Europe – for the energy future of the Autonomous Region of the Azores. The government official spoke at the auditorium of the Regional Civil Engineering Laboratory (LREC) during a presentation session on the results of the project’s Portuguese demonstration site, located on the island of São Miguel. Funded under the Horizon Europe programme, EV4EU “has placed the Azores at the heart of the European debate on innovative solutions for integrating electric mobility into energy systems,” she said. Berta Cabral praised the role of the Regional Directorate for Energy and LREC, emphasising that the inclusion of Azorean entities in an international consortium “demonstrates the existing high technical capacity in the Region and the value of initiatives that bring knowledge, innovation and practical experience to the Azores.” These projects “are not merely academic or laboratory experiments, but rather tangible tools for regional capacity-building, which are essential for bringing the Azores into line with European best practices,” she added, emphasising that “innovation is a key pillar in energy transition.” According to Berta Cabral, “a sustainable future cannot exist without smart technological solutions, new energy management models and the consistent integration of sectors such as energy and mobility,” The government official emphasised that electric mobility represents “a unique opportunity to speed up decarbonisation, increase the efficiency of the electricity system and strengthen the integration of renewable energy sources,” highlighting the Azores’ leading role in this field. Berta Cabral also pointed out the Region’s consistent investment in renewable sources, with a particular focus on geothermal energy, a clear example of the commitment to endogenous resources that reduce dependence on fossil fuels, decrease emissions, and strengthen energy security. In this context, the government official stated that electric mobility plays a central role in the regional strategy, highlighting the Azores Electric Mobility Plan (PMEA) as a key tool in the Government's vision for a cleaner, more efficient and sustainable economy. The EV4EU project “has added significant value to this journey,” she added. EV4EU has developed and tested innovative strategies for the smart management of electric vehicles, with a particular focus on Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) solutions. They demonstrate how vehicles can evolve from mere energy consumers into distributed storage units with the capacity to support the power grid, absorb surplus renewable energy and strengthen the system’s resilience, which is particularly relevant in island regions such as the Azores. According to the Regional Secretary, the demonstration project set up in São Miguel “has helped us to identify limitations, consolidate our knowledge and draw key lessons for future developments.” In this regard, she emphasised that even when implementation is not immediate, “the knowledge acquired is undeniably valuable and provides a solid foundation for new approaches and projects." In a world marked by constant change, Berta Cabral emphasised the urgent need to invest in innovation, energy transition and the diversification of energy sources to build “a more resilient, secure and prosperous future.” The Regional Secretary also highlighted the contribution of projects developed under the RRP, through which EDA has boosted power generation for public supply, whilst private entities, alongside SOLENERGE, have invested in self-consumption. In this context, she emphasised that projects such as EV4EU “prove that the Azores are well placed to play an active role in shaping the energy solutions of the future, contributing to regional, national and European carbon neutrality targets.” “This is a path we are successfully following, recognised internationally, and one that positions us among the best benchmarks for sustainable development,” she said, concluding that the energy transition in the Region “is a strategic plan built in a structured and coherent manner.” Berta Cabral concluded by advocating that “it is vital that public and private entities, and every citizen, assume their role autonomously, knowingly and responsibly in this transformative process.”
