Tag: sustainability

Ponta Delgada is getting a new sustainable look with the installation of accessible eco-islands. The municipality has begun a process of transitioning the waste collection model, which aims to gradually remove containers from the streets and replace them with these innovative eco-islands. These structures not only contribute to a cleaner, more organized aesthetic for the city, but also promote environmental awareness by facilitating selective waste collection through a card-accessible system for residents. Photo: Foto: CMPD/ Açoriano Oriental Source: Açoriano Oriental

The Azores continue to establish themselves as a benchmark destination by renewing their Quality Coast award. This recognition, awarded by the European Coastal and Marine Union, highlights the excellence of the Azorean islands in terms of the sustainable management and preservation of their coastal areas. With their unique natural beauty and ongoing commitment to environmental conservation, the Azores reinforce their position as a tourist destination of excellence, providing authentic and responsible experiences for visitors looking to explore their stunning landscapes and diverse marine ecosystems. Source: Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures

The Navy organised a coastal and underwater clean-up operation in the port of Vila Franca do Campo, in São Miguel. The initiative, carried out in partnership with various institutions, aimed to raise public awareness of the problem of marine litter. As a result of this action, the rubbish collected will be converted into a charitable donation that will revert to the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Vila Franca do Campo, to be used in the “O Farol-E9G” social project, for children and young people aged 6 to 14 in Ponta Graça, as part of the ocean literacy educational programme. More information: Here Source: RTP

The Azores were designated as the “Best Adventure Destination” in the world at the World Travel Awards ceremony held on December 1 in Dubai. This prestigious global acknowledgment highlights the excellence of the experiences provided by the Azores, which had previously secured the title of Best Adventure Destination in Europe consecutively in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Source: Ambitur

On 17 January 2024, a landmark moment took place in the Azores, where 80 people representing the 9 islands and more than 50 different entities came together through the Local SDG Platform. This meeting was promoted by Sustainable Azores – Azores DMO, which aims to respond to one of the region’s biggest challenges: the collaborative identification, monitoring and follow-up of measures and good practices related to sustainable development. The initiative aims to create a “showcase” of sustainable projects and practices on all the islands, stimulated by the 19 municipalities and other local agents that are part of the Azores Green Teams. With the certification of the Azores as a sustainable destination and the Azores Sustainability Booklet, the Local SDG Platform becomes a central point for viewing progress and collaboration between the various entities. More information: Here Source: Sustainable Azores

The Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructure informs that the project “Azores Routes – Cultural and Landscape Itineraries”, developed and promoted with the Regional Authoroty of Tourism, won the category “Authentic Tourism” of the National Tourism Award 2022, an initiative of Expresso and BPI. “It is a national recognition of great relevance that makes us very proud, because it rewards the strategic vision and technical merit in the implementation of a project that aims to enhance our culture and our islands,” underline the Regional Secretary in charge, Berta Cabral. The “Azores Routes”, presented to the public at this year’s edition of BTL, currently have three thematic routes dedicated to whaling, vineyards, and volcanoes, allowing an experiential visitation flow in several points of the archipelago. These routes are already available to the entire public through the rotas.azores.gov.pt platform, counting on more than 60 public and private partners, gathered in a collaborative network, and providing a multiplicity of resources in the territory – many of them usually unknown or even unavailable to the public. Berta Cabral says that “there are more than 40 structured itineraries that add value to the experience on the islands, bringing together the best features of the Azores, namely nature, heritage, authenticity and proximity”. The governor added that “these routes can be used throughout the year, contributing to the mitigation of seasonality and to a better distribution of tourist flows in the territory”. On 27 September, as part of the celebration of the World Tourism Day, Berta Cabral had already announced the expansion of the Thematic Routes, with two new themes, one dedicated to Industrial Tourism and the other to Maritime Explorations, which are expected to be available by early 2024. The National Tourism Award is a joint initiative of Expresso, BPI and Deloitte that distinguishes the best initiatives in the Portuguese tourism sector, contemplating five categories: authentic tourism, gastronomic tourism, inclusive tourism, innovative tourism, and sustainable tourism. This year 743 applications were submitted, assessed by technical committees and a jury of representatives from different areas of Portuguese society. Azores were also represented by other finalist projects, such as the Azores Wine Company, a wine tourism project, in the Authentic Tourism category; the Bensaúde Group, in the Sustainable Tourism category; and the Azores All in Blue – Tourism and Autism project, winner in the Inclusive Tourism category, to which the Azores Government extends its congratulations. Source: Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructure