Regional Tourism Offices with renovated infrastructures and contents to improve communication
The Regional Secretary for Energy, Environment and Tourism stated that the Government has carried out interventions in the Azores Tourism Offices on São Jorge, Santa Maria and Graciosa with a view to "renovating infrastructures and providing them with contents to improve communication."
"The process of renovating the integrated tourism information network, through interventions in existing infrastructures, is of paramount importance as it allows a new approach by equipping these offices to provide a better service and reinforcing human resources for this network," said Marta Guerreiro. She spoke at the opening of São Jorge Tourism Office in Velas.
The government official emphasised the importance of each Tourism Office worker, being "fundamental professionals in welcoming visitors, through the sharing of our specifics and places that make us so authentic and different from other destinations."
For Marta Guerreiro, Tourism Offices are "spaces that privilege the contact" with visitors, representing an "opportunity to demonstrate the intrinsic nature of Azorean hospitality" and, thus, enhance "the true Azores experience."
"We have taken major steps in hospitality policies and, in this context, we are in the process of developing a project with the aim of improving the architecture, design and digital communication of Regional Tourism Offices towards their renovation and adaptation. These interventions will ensure the standardisation of the destination in terms of image and communication," added the government official.
"These are just some of the measures that we have been implementing to enhance the qualification of the Azores destination," stressed the Regional Secretary. As for the specific case of São Jorge, she pointed out "ongoing some interventions to improve and guarantee the safety of hikers, namely the construction of a pedestrian bridge over a stream located in the São João - Vimes trail. Moreover, there are other interventions to replace steps in some rails and other sites of tourist interest with the aim of ensuring accessibility in the best conditions."
In her speech, Marta Guerreiro pointed out that the island of São Jorge registered a "growth of 8.4% in overnight stays in all types of accommodation" between January and September of this year, along with the 5% increase in revenue registered in traditional hotel units. According to her, "despite the reduction of overnight stays in this type of accommodation, the RevPAR (revenue per available room) grew 4%."
As for tourism markets, the Secretary for Tourism mentioned "significant increases in all types of accommodation, with special emphasis on the American market (+ 34.6%) and the French market (+ 31.5%). She also highlighted the increase of nearly 1,000 overnight stays registered by the Portuguese market, representing a growth of about 5.1%."