Navy organises coastal and underwater clean-up in solidarity

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

Azores are “Best Adventure Destination,” according to the World Travel Awards

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

Azores receive ‘Silver Level IV’ in Sustainable Tourism Destination Certification

The Azores have solidified their position as a global leader in sustainable tourism by achieving the ‘Silver Level IV’ certification for “Sustainable Destination” from EarthCheck. This recognition is based on the rigorous sustainability criteria established by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), reinforcing the Azores as the only archipelagic destination in the world to attain such distinction. The ‘Silver Level IV’ certification signals a continued commitment to innovation and sustainable practices. The Azores remain dedicated to maintaining and surpassing these standards, working in collaboration with local and international stakeholders to ensure that tourism in the region is environmentally positive and beneficial for local communities. Source: Governo dos Açores

Local SDG Platform unites 80 Azorean organisations to promote sustainable development

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

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“Azores Routes” wins National Tourism Award in the category Authentic Tourism

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

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Azores reach the third level of silver as a sustainable tourism destination

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.

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The Azores are growing as a tourist destination with “added value” and “far from massification”.

The President of the Regional Government affirmed that Azores “are growing as a tourist destination with added value” and “far” from massification but underlined that “mitigating seasonality is one of the priorities”. During his speech, José Manuel Bolieiro stated that 2022 is expected to be “the best year ever” for tourism in Azores, which “confirmed” the importance of the sector for “the development of the Azorean economy”. He also mentioned that it is necessary to ensure sustainability in its “three essential components, environmental, economic and social”. José Manuel Bolieiro also referred as “a real challenge” the distribution of tourist flows through the nine islands, “from Santa Maria to Corvo”, the smallest island in the Azores. The President of the Regional Government warned that “new challenges are coming” that “will require resistance and resilience” due to the consequences, which are still being felt, caused by the pandemic of covid-19, the war in Ukraine, inflation, the energy crisis and, also in the case of the Azores, the lack of manpower that “bring reasons to be attentive and proactive in action. José Manuel Bolieiro also explained that the Azores have “unique characteristics in nature, people, culture, heritage”, which ensure the differentiation of the destination and allow travellers to experience “purity, simplicity and genuineness”, elements that “have unfortunately already been lost” in other parts of the world. Source: Jornal Açores

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National Geographic chooses Azores as a “superlative destination” to travel to in 2023

The Azores are “one of the best places in the world for whale watching”, but more than that, the Portuguese archipelago is “working to secure its future”, with “award-winning sustainability programmes that conserve the natural wonders” of the nine islands. The travel section of the world’s most influential geographical society has just released its annual list of ” 25 breathtaking places and experiences for 2023 “, focusing this time on “places full of wonder, rewarding for travellers of all ages, and that support local communities and ecosystems”. There are 25 destinations, divided into five categories: Community, Nature, Culture, Family and Adventure, and the Azores is one of the elected places for 2023 thanks to the bet “on the conservation and protection of biodiversity, air and water quality, and preservation of local heritage”. In the article dedicated to the “five extremely underrated natural escapades for 2023”, the Azores appear at the top of the list, followed by Big Bend National Park, in Texas (USA), Botswana, Slovenia and the Scottish Highlands. Source: Fugas

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Azores Airlines takes off the SATA Group’s first flight with sustainable aviation fuel

October 24 will be written in Azores Airlines’ history as the beginning of a new era, the date of its first-ever flight using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This milestone is even more significant considering that, a few days ago, the SATA Group joined the European Union Zero Emissions Aviation Alliance, an initiative seeking to decarbonize the sector by 2050.   Azores Airlines’ first commercial flight fueled with SAF connected Lisbon and Ponta Delgada, with 165 passengers, in an Airbus A320 named UNIQUE with registration CS-TKK. The aircraft took off from Lisbon airport at 7:25 p.m. local time and landed at Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island, at 9:30 p.m. local time. The fuel used on this route incorporated 39% renewable origin material known as HEFA (Hydro-processed Esters and Fatty Acids), representing a 35% reduction in total CO emissions. Preparation and monitorization of this first commercial flight using sustainable aviation fuel involved the energy partners Galp and NESTE and Carlyle Aviation Partners, a commercial aviation investment platform and lessor of the CS-TKK UNIQUE aircraft operated by Azores Airlines. Together with Azores Airlines’ technical teams, the partners ensured the feasibility of this operation. SAF offers similar performance to traditional jet fuel and can be used in the same engines as fossil fuel, but with a significantly lower carbon footprint. SATA Group aims to bring together its efforts to consolidate its sustainability strategy by achieving goals and targets defined for the industry. This is not the only ongoing action by the Azorean airlines. The ambition to reach zero emissions in 2050 consists of many steps: this is a concrete example of an initiative that contributes to building a sustainable future for the air transport sector, which also contributes to the environmental sustainability of the Archipelago of the Azores. Source: Sata Azores Airlines