"We need to involve our communities in our tourism development," says Berta Cabral

Secretaria Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas

The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, Berta Cabral, praised today the record indicators for tourism in the Azores but stressed that this economic area is only beneficial as long as it is, as it has been, "good for Azoreans and residents" on the nine islands.

"We have to involve our communities in our tourism development," she said, speaking at the Teatro Micaelense in Ponta Delgada during the presentation of the Margullar 2 project, which combines culture and tourism.

As far as tourism is concerned, Berta Cabral is adamant: "In 2022, we were able to surpass the 2019 indicators. This is a source of pride and an added responsibility. With the growth of tourism, we will develop the region from an economic standpoint, create jobs, and generate wealth and value: everyone wins."

This regional "driving force of the economy" should, as the government official noted, "reach new audiences" with "differentiated" projects.

"Improving the quality of our tourism will result in more added value for the Azores," she said.

The government official also stated that the revision of the Strategic and Marketing Plan for Tourism in the Azores (PEMTA) will be geared towards sustainability but will have a broader vision, with a strong focus on the sea and culture.

"The human dimension of culture is reflected in the new PEMTA. We must involve our communities in our tourism development. Tourism is only good if it is good for our communities," she said.

Regarding the Margullar project, Berta Cabral noted that it "will provide a significant contribution to the diversification of tourism" in the Region.

The Margullar 2 project, which began to be implemented in 2021, is a project focused on the tourism-culture binomial, aimed at stimulating the local economy, developing research and safeguarding the archaeological heritage of the Azores Sea.

In this regard, several areas were created for the development of the Regional in the fields of archaeology, heritage awareness and cultural tourism, through the Regional Government of the Azores and its local partner, ADCA - Agency for the Development of Culture in the Azores, as well as through several collaborators and technical consultants, who have joined the initiatives.

The Azores have 35 archaeological heritage diving sites, open to the public, divided among all islands, and about a thousand shipwrecks documented. It is one of the largest underwater museums to be visited in the world. The Good Practices Manual for heritage safeguarding has already been drawn up.