NEWS | Berta Cabral welcomes the Azores’ “Gold Level II” certification as sustainable tourist destination
The Azores have just achieved “Gold Level II” certification as a sustainable tourist destination from EarthCheck, a global organisation specialising in certification, consulting and advisory services in sustainability, particularly for tourist destinations and the tourism industry.
This is yet another certification that, according to the Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructure, Berta Cabral, “makes the Region proud” and “demonstrates that the Regional Government is on the right track to consolidate the destination.”
The Azores achieved EarthCheck Gold Certification as a sustainable tourist destination in 2024 (they already held Level IV Silver).
This new achievement for the Azores (“Gold Level II”), the government official continued, “strengthens the Region’s leadership in sustainability, consisting of international recognition that positions the Azores at a level of excellence.”
“In addition to demonstrating the Region’s commitment to preserving the natural and cultural heritage of the nine islands, EarthCheck certification reinforces the destination’s positioning by granting it a competitive advantage in the market over competing destinations,” she added.
Berta Cabral noted that “this certification is an integrated and continuous improvement process, which requires active work through the adoption and monitoring of strategic initiatives, supported by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda (SDGs). They include the responsible management of natural resources, the preservation of culture and society, and the protection of biodiversity.”
She continued: “The Azores will keep working to maintain and improve the destination’s sustainability standards, with a view to preserving the natural and cultural uniqueness of the territory, protecting the well-being of the local community, and giving visitors the possibility of experiencing the Azores in their most authentic and preserved form.”
Under the auspices of the Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, the Azores Destination Sustainability Management Structure
(Açores DMO) is the entity responsible for managing the sustainability of the Azores as a destination.
The Azores are currently the first archipelago in the world to receive this certification.
Berta Cabral pointed out that the importance of tourism in the Azorean economy has been growing. Despite winning “medals” for sustainability, the archipelago is undergoing a “continuous process” and facing challenges due to tourist pressure.
The government official also noted that “the positioning of the Azores as a tourist destination has been developed on the premise of sustainability.”
“The Azores are a national and even global example of how it is possible to reconcile tourism, nature conservation and quality of life. The drive for sustainability is also felt by tour operators: Overall, much has been done in the Azores in recent years towards sustainability. Compared to other places, there is a great deal of concern about this issue,” she concluded.
GRA/RÁDIOILHÉU
