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Azores wins “People’s Choice 2022” award from Green Destinations

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The Azores won the People’s Choice Award 2022, awarded by Green Destinations, in the category “Decarbonization & Positioning of the destination value supply chain”. In a ceremony organized in partnership with Turismo de Portugal, I.P. and GLP Films, which took place on March 11, 2022 at ITB Berlin, the Azores were awarded for good energy efficiency practices throughout the region and, in particular, for the example of Graciosa Island, known as “model island”. The attribution of the People’s Choice 2022 award proves and reinforces the strategic positioning of the Azores as a sustainable tourist destination, certified by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) criteria, and proves the region’s alignment with the European Union’s strategic guidelines for the future development of tourism. This award is also the result of the work of the Government of the Azores in promoting renewable energies and the investments and initiatives that aim to promote energy efficiency and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In Graciosa, these efforts are worth of mention for the adoption of several measures in terms of sustainable transport, through the investment in an electric bus and the adoption of a ‘bike sharing’ system, self-consumption in clean energy, as well as network electric optimization. ITB Berlin is the largest travel and tourism fair in the world, in partnership with Green Destinations, an entity accredited by the GSTC that recognizes good practices in sustainable development of tourist destinations, over the last few years, projects and initiatives of in the area of Sustainable Tourism, having already distinguished the Azores on several occasions. Source: Açoriano Oriental

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Azores distinguished in international environmental quality award for sustainable tourism

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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

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Azores distinguished by Green Destinations in the “Communities & Culture” category

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The Azores reached the second place with the “Good Practice Story” in the “Communities & Culture” category of Green Destinations. The announcement was made through the online event of the ‘Green Destinations Story Awards’, a ceremony that presents the most inspiring stories of sustainable and resilient tourism practices of 2020. The region achieved this award with the Azores Sustainability Charter Project, an initiative of the Regional Government of the Azores, through the Regional Secretariat for Transport, Tourism and Energy, which aims to support the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals in an inclusive and comprehensive manner in different sectors of society. The charter is carried out in the nine islands through awareness raising and fundraising actions, training workshops and progress forums. The initiative’s main objective is to be a forum for reflection on how to promote sustainable development in the Azores, across sectors and across the archipelago. The Azores Sustainability Charter started in 2017, with only 45 subscribing entities, and currently covers 143 entities, which translates into more than 500 sustainability commitments made by the various entities spread across the nine islands in the Region. This award reinforces the strategic positioning of the Region as a sustainable destination, thus bringing together the various sectors of Azorean society, towards the sustainable development of the archipelago. For more information and to subscribe to a click of the Azores Sustainability Charter click HERE. Source: Açores 24 horas

Azores are once again part of the TOP 100 of Sustainable Destinations

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The Regional Secretary for Energy, Environment and Tourism revealed today that the Azores are once again included in the TOP 100 list of Sustainable Destinations by Green Destinations. “It is recognitions like this that make us continue this path towards sustainability with more strength and more enthusiasm,” said Marta Guerreiro. “I cannot fail to show pride and satisfaction for receiving, once again, this acknowledgment, which places the Azores at a high promotional level regarding to sustainability issues, which we strive for and are recognized for”, stressed the titleholder of the Tourism wallet. The official emphasized that, since last year, the Azores have been certified as a Sustainable Tourist Destination, being the only archipelago in the world and the only region in the country with this distinction, considering that “this was a work, not always visible, of the last years , with very positive consequences, especially in the times we are currently experiencing”. “We have seen a reconfiguration of the tourism sector, but in this matter, the Azores anticipated a set of actions and measures”, said the Regional Secretary. “We must be proud to be leading this path of sustainable development in tourism”, said Marta Guerreiro, reinforcing, however, that “a destination with sustainability certification can never consider that its work is finished and that is why we are in the second year of the certification process, starting now to win the Gold Award for Sustainable Destination by EarthCheck, the certifying destinations entity”. “EarthCheck is governed by strict criteria of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, that is, with the United Nations seal, which attests to the quality of its action and our certification as a Sustainable Tourist Destination”, she emphasized. “The aim of the Azores is to maintain this strategic positioning and to continue to affirm the Region as a world reference of destination, effectively, sustainable”, she guaranteed. According to the governor, “it is important to be more and more ambitious and continue to work to reach the highest levels of this certification”. With this TOP 100, Green Destinations recognizes and presents stories of sustainable tourism and its good practices as inspiring examples for other Destinations, for tour operators and for travelers. The TOP 100 list of sustainable destinations can be accessed at: https://greendestinations.org/sustainabletop100/ In 2020, Green Destinations had already distinguished the Azores in the ‘Best of Nature’ category, in 2019 in the ‘Best of Europe’ category, as one of the regions that contributed to Portugal being awarded, and in 2018, in the category ‘Best of the Atlantic’. Since 2012, the archipelago has also been awarded by the Quality Coast, a Green Destinations program, and since 2014 it has been a platinum destination, the highest level of this award, which distinguishes the best practices from sustainable destinations. Green Destinations is a non-profit foundation for the development and recognition of sustainable destinations, leading a global partnership of representatives, specialized organizations and academic institutions.