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The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructure chaired the III Meeting of the Advisory Committee for the Sustainability of the Azores tourist destination

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The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructure, Berta Cabral, presided, on September 22, the III Meeting of the Advisory Committee for the Sustainability of the Azores tourist destination, with the presence of entities that represent the regional interests, linked to the theme of sustainable tourism. The agenda included sharing the guidelines of the Azores Tourism Strategy, which aims to attract a tourist who leaves more value in the destination, while respecting the natural and cultural heritage. The Regional Director of Tourism, Rosa Costa, added the need to work on the structuring of the product, valuing the authenticity and attributes of each island. Migrating the negative effects of seasonality, and measures that encourage the dispersion of tourists across the islands are goals that aim to promote more sustainable tourism. The Azores DMO also provided an overview of the work carried out this year, highlighting the importance of the collaborative process and the involvement of the various public and private agents in order to achieve sustainable development goals and policies throughout the Region. Sustainable tourism must benefit, in the first place, the Azoreans. Learn more about the actions and measures in the Azores Destination Sustainability Action Plan 2019-2030, HERE

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Azores exceed incentives for electric mobility allocated in 2021 in June

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The Azores Regional Government has awarded incentives for the purchase of 170 electric vehicles and 46 charging stations in the first half of 2022, a number that exceeds the figures recorded in 2021. Between January and June 2022, support was provided in the Azores for the acquisition of 170 electric vehicles (147 light cars and 23 motorised bicycles) and 46 charging points “for a total amount of more than 423,000 euros”, the regional energy directorate revealed. These figures exceed the total values of 2021, according to the execution report of the incentives for electric mobility, available on the Azores Energy Portal. In total, the Azorean executive received 130 eligible applications (67 from São Miguel, 56 from Terceira, three from Pico, two from Santa Maria, one from Faial and one from Graciosa), having allocated around 305 thousand euros. The incentive allowed the acquisition of “99 light vehicles, 33 charging points, 14 motorised bicycles and one motorised tricycle or quadricycle”. Segundo o relatório, com a atribuição destes incentivos, “foram evitadas as emissões de pelo menos 149,8 toneladas de CO2”, em 2021. The system of financial incentives for the acquisition of electric vehicles and charging points in the Azores was amended in early 2021. The support can reach up to 4 550 euros, if all available supplements are applied, in the case of acquisition of light motor vehicles by individuals. The purchase of charging points for electric vehicles can be subsidised up to 500 euros. According to the Regional Director of Energy, Joana Rita, the Azorean Executive “has prioritised policies that aim to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, simultaneously reducing external dependence on fossil fuels”. Joana Rita, who participated in an online public session on “Electric Mobility in the Azores – State of Play and New Challenges”, organised by the Regional Directorate for Energy, in partnership with the Portuguese Energy Agency (ADENE), argued that public policies are “especially relevant in the current context” of the world. The event was preceded by a working meeting with several regional and national entities, where the state of play of the energy transition of regional public transport was discussed. The European project EMOBICITY, co-financed by the ‘Interreg Europe’ programme, which the Regional Directorate for Energy is part of, was also addressed with a view to improving regional support measures for electric mobility. Source: Lusa

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Azores distinguished at BTL 2022 with an award in the “Sustainability” category

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In the context of the BTL 2022 awards, the Autonomous Region of the Azores was awarded a prize in the “Sustainability” category, in clear and unequivocal recognition of the excellent work that has been developed by the Government, as well as by public and private entities, and which places the Azores in the lead on this theme as the first and only archipelago in the world with the “Destination

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Azores distinguished in Brussels with the European Heritage Label

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The Azores Underwater Heritage was distinguished by the European Commission with the European Heritage Label, an award intended for “cultural events and sites of high interest in the area of cultural heritage”. According to the Regional Secretary for Education and Cultural Affairs, Sofia Ribeiro, the European Commission award is intended for “cultural events and sites of high interest in the area of cultural heritage, which combine the historical, archaeological and intangible heritage of European identity”. Since the 70s, more than a hundred shipwrecks have been detected through successive archaeological works in the archipelago, recorded in the Archaeological Chart of the Azores, with about a thousand documented sites”, said the official. The Azores archipelago corresponds “to one of the worldwide sites with the greatest heritage potential in its waters”. The ongoing strategy explores “the appreciation and capitalization of these assets, at the tourist and economic level, with partnerships with research centers, and protecting them, through the creation of legal tools for the due effects” The Cultural Affairs portfolio holder, quoted in the released note, also explains that the European Heritage Label is “the most important distinction, at European level, within the scope of cultural heritage, aiming to increase the feeling of belonging to the European Union”. “The Azores were notified in 2019 with this distinction, however, due to the pandemic, the award ceremony was postponed to this year, and the places distinguished in 2021 were also awarded”, mentioned Sofia Ribeiro. The process began in 2018, “following the creation of the Azores Underwater Cultural Heritage Roadmap”, applying for the prize “all Underwater Heritage of the archipelago inventoried until then”. In addition to the distinction given to the Azores in 2019, spaces in France, Italy, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovenia were also awarded, the Regional Government also informed. According to the executive, the European Heritage Label “has already distinguished 60 sites in the European Union” and “Portugal is now distinguished for the fourth time”. Now, the Azores Underwater Heritage joins the Charter for the Abolition of the Death Penalty in Portugal, the General Library of the University of Coimbra and Ponta de Sagres. Source: Lusa

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More than a thousand SATA group passengers have joined the carbon emission offset program

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More than a thousand SATA group passengers have already joined the voluntary carbon offset program of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), announced the Azorean air carrier. The Voluntary Carbon Offset program at SATA Azores Airlines was launched on March 21 (Arbor Day) and is promoted by IATA, which has contributed to carrying out initiatives with an impact on offsetting carbon emissions, while strengthening the development of sustainable projects, implemented in different regions of the planet. Through this program, passengers of the SATA group can choose to support a project, certified by IATA, through a voluntary contribution. According to SATA, in this first phase, the airlines in the SATA group elected the “Ecofiltro Guatemala Improved Stoves and Water Purification” project. In partnership with ClimateCare and Natural Capital Partners, this project contributes to “the reduction of up to 200,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year”, according to the airline. The project is also “contributing to improve health conditions of rural families in Guatemala, by providing high quality stoves to replace the traditional and inefficient fires used for cooking, and also by providing high quality water purification equipment (ecofilters) that increase access to drinking water”, according to SATA. The airline also informs that “the mark of more than a thousand passengers, who voluntarily offset the carbon emissions produced by their travel with SATA Azores Airlines, has been exceeded”. “This is good news and an excellent start, which can only motivate a thank you to all passengers who voluntarily joined the cause, contributing to the IATA carbon offset program, to which the SATA group airlines have joined”. SATA also emphasizes that by joining this IATA carbon offset program, the group “took a further step towards consolidating the sustainability strategy” that it intends to implement “in the coming years”. Besides Azores Airlines’fleet renewal, which “deserves to be highlighted for being the one that allows a more significant volume of reduction in the CO2 emissions produced”, the airline points out that “other processes are taking place simultaneously and in several areas of the group’s companies”. Source: Açoriano Oriental

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Government of the Azores 100% finances the purchase of photovoltaic solar systems

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The Government of the Azores announced the acquisition and subsequent installation of photovoltaic solar systems in the autonomous region, with 100% eligible expenses up to a maximum of 1,500 euros per installed kW. The global allocation of this support is 19 million euros to be applied until 2025. It should be noted that the amount of support for the purchase of photovoltaic solar systems originates from the Recovery and Resilience Plan. With the presentation of this support, the Government of the Azores intends to promote the production of electricity, based on renewable energy sources, in this case, solar photovoltaic systems. Boost the production of electricity from renewable sources This support is possible due to the evolution of this technology, providing an increase in the capacity to respond to the needs of families, companies and other Azorean organizations. Energy dependence of the Azores Through this support, the Government of the Azores takes an important step towards reducing the region’s energy dependence, and at the same time, promotes the reduction of costs with the energy bill of families and companies. 100% financing rate This support for the purchase of photovoltaic solar systems has a financing rate of 100% of the total eligible expenses, in the form of a non-refundable subsidy. This support subsidizes new equipment, being possible to allocate it before the acquisition of photovoltaic solar systems by citizens and companies. Recovery and Resilience Plan This support measure by the Government of the Azores is part of Component 14 – Hydrogen and Renewables of the Recovery and Resilience Plan. This component intends to promote the investment in the production of energy obtained from renewable sources, in accordance with the assumptions of the energy transition. Source: Start_PME

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Azores distinguished as a safe holiday destination in 2022, by the European Safe Destination

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For the 3rd year in a row of a “European Best Destinations” Azores was chosen as a safe destination for holidays in 2022. The election was based on criteria such as the number of Covid-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, as well as sanitary and local measures imposed by the local authorities to receive tourists in hotels, shops and to restaurants. The distinction made by the website “European Best Destinations”, makes the Azores one of the few destinations that maintained, during pandemic period, the possibility of a safe experience in permanent contact with sustainable nature, and reinforces confidence in choosing the Azores when planning your vacation. Sustainability and safety are the pillars of the Azores destination, visiting the Azores is a complete experience, both in terms of activities (walking tours, whale watching, bird watching, diving, surfing, golf, among others), as well as in terms of landscapes and gastronomy. Source: Açores 24h

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Azores selected to participate in the European Commission’s “Smart Tourism Destinations” project

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The Azores was one of the 50 European destinations selected to integrate the “Smart Tourism Destinations” Project, an initiative of the European Commission that aims to support European Union destinations to improve tourism services and experiences through innovative digital solutions. The Azores DMO, which is part of the Regional Secretariat for Transport, Tourism and Energy, was formally notified that Destination Azores was one of the destinations selected to participate in the project, through the European ‘call’ EU Destinations Managers. The selection of the Azores to participate in this project reinforces the region’s positioning as a reference destination on the map of the most sustainable, innovative European destinations with the capacity to lead new development paradigms. The project comprises the participation in a set of training and capacity building activities in the management of sustainable destinations, with the aim of improving efficiency in the management capacity and data reading at the service of tourism. The participants selected to join this European Commission initiative will also form part of a community of elite European destinations, which will allow for the sharing of knowledge on good smart tourism practices. The participation of the Azores in this project is enthusiastically seen by Mário Mota Borges, Regional Secretary responsible for Tourism, as “a valuable learning opportunity”, since the initiative will establish the roots of collaboration, sharing of knowledge and exchange of experiences and best practices within the European Union’s tourism ecosystem. Mário Mota also mentioned that it is urgent for the region to move “towards a model of smart tourism, where decisions are made in an informed way and supported by reliable and up-to-date data, in line with the fundamental premises of the European Commission guidelines for the digital transition in tourism”. The assumptions of the certification of the Azores as a “Sustainable Tourist Destination” had great relevance in the application and selection process, since the demonstration of evidence of data use in the context of tourist destination management was a fundamental requirement. The performance of the Azores DMO, as well as the entire certification process, is based on a data-based approach with the aim of facilitating the sustainable development of the Azores tourist destination, together with partners from the public and private sector, supporting the adoption of effective solutions for this purpose. Source: Governo dos Açores

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Azores committed to the development of the Regional Program for Forest Management

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As part of the International Day of Forests, which is celebrated on March 21, the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development, António Ventura, joined a tree planting action, in the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo (Terceira, Azores). The commemorations of this date, organized by the forestry services of the guardianship, are usually attended by students from different schools, in order to raise their awareness of sustainable forest management and the importance of the Laurissilva forest, made up of endemic species of the region of Macaronesia – Azores, Madeira, Canaries and Cape Verde. In Azores, the forest supports an economic sector responsible for 1,400 jobs, generating an annual turnover of around 1.8 million euros, through the direct sale of woody material, and 10.9 million euros, when accounted at the level of the industrial sector of the first transformation. With the current change in the consumption requirements of citizens, the various agents in the forestry sector are “adapting” to a new reality “redefining priorities and aligning new strategies”, as the Regional Secretary, António Ventura, said during the action he participated. António Ventura also defended that the Forest Management Certification, implemented by the Government of the Azores on the island of São Miguel, is “fundamental in this process”. This certification guarantees that forest products placed on the market come from responsibly managed forests, which “contributes to counteracting” the scourge of forest destruction at a global level. The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development also mentioned that the forest plays an important role in the “provision of various systemic ecosystem services”, namely in soil conservation, in the regulation and improvement of the quality of water resources, in the conservation of biodiversity, in the landscape maintenance and carbon sequestration. Source: Revista Agricultura e Mar