Berta Cabral says work carried out with partners promotes Azores on global sustainable tourism scene - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas

The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures defended today in Ponta Delgada that "the work carried out in the Azores, not only by the Regional Government but also by all partners, is recognised as good practice, and this projects the image of the Region on the global tourism scene."

Berta Cabral spoke at the opening of the 7th meeting of the Advisory Committee for the Sustainability of the Azores Tourist Destination. She considered a milestone in the sector's work and a fundamental step that takes place annually, being one of the requirements of the certification process for the Azores as a sustainable tourist destination.

She continued: "Since 2019, this annual meeting has been a special moment for reflection, sharing and commitment, evidencing the collaborative spirit we have adopted together for the good of the Region. This is the first meeting we have held with the Advisory Committee since we achieved Gold Level certification as a Sustainable Destination."

"It is a fantastic milestone achieved at the end of last year, to which everyone here has actively contributed, and one that makes us very proud," she emphasised.

For the government official, "each achievement is not a finishing line, but rather a stepping stone that raises regional responsibility."

"With each level we achieve in this certification, we have an added responsibility to do even better and improve continuously. Our goal has always been clear: leading by example, which we have managed to do," she said.

Today's meeting was intended to share the results of the 2024 certification. According to Berta Cabral, this process "should be regarded as a unique opportunity to look objectively and transparently at the Region's performance in economic, environmental and social terms, always in a coordinated and interdependent manner."

"This is the only way we can improve continuously and sustainably," she defended.

As part of this certification process, the Azores will undergo EarthCheck's annual on-site audit, which will take place between October 20 and 24.

This year, the islands selected for the audit will be Terceira and Graciosa, where visits will be made to waste processing plants, water treatment systems and power stations, among other critical assessment points.

“This process validates our daily joint efforts and gives confidence and transparency to all stakeholders, including those in the highly competitive tourism market. Yes, we must not forget that it was tourism that brought us here and allowed us to leverage this wave of sustainability,” pointed out Berta Cabral.

In this regard, she added: "This sector deserves our care and dedication so that we can maintain our main goal of having tourism all year round and on all islands."

The government official also highlighted the importance of the Azores Smart Tourist Flow Monitoring System (SIMIFTA), which is already being implemented to collect real-time data on the profiles, mobility and visitation patterns of tourists on the nine islands.

Both SIMIFTA and PDTA - Azores Tourism Territorial Development Plan (formerly known as POTRAA and currently under review) are, according to Berta Cabral, "structural instruments that will consolidate the definition of public policies and also support entrepreneurs and investors in the sector, through relevant and reliable data."

The Regional Secretary took this opportunity to highlight some conclusions drawn from the results of the tourist satisfaction survey conducted by the Azores Sustainable Tourism Observatory (OTSA), according to which 76% of the population agrees that the destination is following a sustainable tourism model.

"We are on a path of truly sustainable growth, in which tourism continues to assert itself as the driving force behind the Azorean economy, generating wealth, creating jobs, investment and opportunities for the future of our islands. However, we cannot just focus on visitors. It is vital that we listen to the voices of those living here, as tourism will only be good as long as it is good for the residents of our islands," he said.

She added that "this data is very relevant, as it confirms the legitimacy of the ongoing work: tourism is only truly sustainable when it is valued and recognised by those living in the area."

At the end of her speech, the Regional Secretary recalled the significance of September 25, which marks National Sustainability Day. As such, it strengthens everyone's commitment on the eve of World Tourism Day (September 27) and in the midst of European Sports Week.