Azores: more than a tourist destination

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to share the Azorean Government perspective and strategy for managing the current and estimated future tourism growth, assuring a sustainable destination approach, based on political commitment to integrate energy, environment and tourism in the same department. This paper also provides guidance and some key points for action pertinent to other destinations.

Design/methodology/approach

Content analysis of the development of Azores as a tourist destination and the strategies of the Azorean Regional Government relating to tourism development.

Findings

From an analysis of the Azores tourism statistics of the past three years, it is possible to predict that the levels of growth from supply and demand will continue to improve in a balanced way. The policies to be implemented in accordance with the Azorean government’s program for the next four years make clear that the Azores are perfectly positioned in relation to one of the fastest growing tourism segments in the world: adventure tourism and active nature.

Practical implications

This paper promotes the attractions of the Azores as an example in terms of sustainable practice policies.

Originality/value

Given current developments in world tourism, this paper considers the growth of tourism in the Azores. It also presents statistical data that confirms the sustained growth of the destination and the policies that are being developed to maintain the sustainability of the nine islands of the Azores.

Citation

Guerreiro, M. (2017), "Azores: more than a tourist destination", Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, Vol. 9 No. 6, pp. 653-658. https://doi.org/10.1108/WHATT-09-2017-0059