It is the only archipelago in the world certified as a Sustainable Tourism Destination

The Azores have obtained the third silver level in the international certification as a Sustainable Tourism Destination by the EarthCheck standard, according to the criteria of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

This classification proves the positive and consolidated evolution of a work started in 2017, while reinforcing the positioning and leadership of the Azores in tourism sustainability. The Azores archipelago remains the only one in the world certified as a Sustainable Tourism Destination.

The independent auditors of EarthCheck (the certifying body) evaluated, between 10th and 15th October this year, several infrastructures in different islands of the Azores, resulting now in another level reached in the certification process. The standard adopted by EarthCheck stipulates an evolutionary certification process which imposes the progressive achievement of four levels (silver, gold, platinum and master). The next big goal of the Region is to reach the gold level in 2024.