Tag: environmentalsustainability

The Azores were elected in 2021 as a Platinum “Coast of Quality” Destination, an international award that distinguishes coastal environmental quality for sustainable tourism. In the criteria defined by the Green Destinations, the Azores achieved a level of compliance of 97.8% of the sustainability indicators: Destination Management; Nature and Landscape; Environment and Climate; Culture and Tradition; Social Welfare; Business and Hospitality. Green Destinations is a non-profit organization for the development and recognition of sustainable destinations, which supports more than 200 destinations in 60 countries with the aim of promoting responsible tourism based on globally expired principles and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The “Quality Coast” Platinum award was assigned for the first time to the Azores in 2014 as the best destination in Europe in terms of sustainable tourism, with an independent performance check of the destination’s progress every two years. The Quality Coast program, developed by the Green Destination Award & Certification Program, challenges destinations to promote responsible management on a continuous and sustainable basis, in order to encourage the tourism sector to implement important environmental measures. Destinations compromise to a sustainable management system, with an external performance and progress audit every two years, with recommendations for improvement. This award is especially intended for seaside destinations. Special attention is given to shores, beach management and bathing water quality. The Platinum “Quality Coast” certification is the highest-level award of global recognition for the quality and management of the destination, based on the criteria defined by the Green Destinations. Source: Governo Regional dos Açores