The Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport stated in Lagoa on São Miguel Island that the Azores "meet all the conditions" to become a "smart archipelago."
 
"By taking advantage of our territorial features, we have raised our ambition to not only become "smart cities," but also to transform our Region into true smart islands," as recommended by the Azores Intelligent Islands programme; the latter is featured in the Digital and Technological Agenda created by the Government of the Azores, said Vítor Fraga.
 
The Regional Secretary spoke at the opening of the conference "Lagoa Smart City 2020," which he presided over on behalf of the President of the Government.
 
"Without losing the notion that the concept of smart city and smart community is closely linked to information and communication technologies, these tools will help us generating business, social and environmental dynamics on a daily basis," stressed the Regional Secretary. 
 
"If we want to promote the Azores as a sustainable destination, we have to be the first to act as such," said Vítor Fraga.
 
"In coming years, we believe that the Government should launch a series of measures to promote greater integration of Internet of things technologies (IoT) in various products and services of the tourism sector. This is important to complement relevant information, disseminate of new services and to boost profitability among industry agents so that may generate wealth and contribute to the preservation and creation of jobs," stressed the government official.
 
For the Regional Secretary, "a better integration will certainly generate a significant amount of data that, if properly analysed, will improve the decision-making process."
 
"In this context, we must invest in open data policy, promoting dissemination, collaborating with other organisations in the development of new solutions and searching for new areas," said the government official. He added that "the future naturally lies in open data, where transparency in information will be crucial to the success of initiatives."
 
Vítor Fraga stressed that future actions should be guided by this practical sense, adding that it is "duly based on strategic documents that are in line with European guidelines"; the latter defend "environmental sustainability as one of the impressive marks that guide our way of being and promote the Region as a tourist destination."
 
"If these four years were directed to the structuring of strategic measures, the next will be devoted to their implementation as well as to "trade off," which we will have to be implemented in order to achieve the goals we have set for ourselves," said Vítor Fraga.
 
"The Government of the Azores believes that the Region's growth must go through the evolution of a sustainable and integrated development model, combining digital services at the service of citizens, infrastructures and urban rehabilitation, education, training and models of economic sustainability, and energy efficiency technologies," said the government official.
 
The Regional Secretary stressed that the Government "has taken on these priorities since long and has based its action and investment on them. Hence, it identifies itself with all projects that are ongoing as well as with those to be developed in the Azores for the implementation of smart Azorean cities."
 
In this context, he ensured that everyone can count on the Government of the Azores, which counts on everyone "to build a truly smart archipelago."
 
While assuming the goal of becoming a smart city, Lagoa "reveals an ambition and a vision, which we share, support and, of course, welcome." This is a path "marked by nonconformity, restlessness, ambition and the entrepreneurial and competitive spirit that we want the Azores to continue following."
 
"This is the brand of Azorean people, who turns difficulties into opportunities, searching for constant improvement. Once again, we will be an example to the world," said the Regional Secretary.