The Regional Director for Tourism stated today that the growing projection of the Azores Destination allows the Region to position itself in attracting bigger and accessible tourism flows. In this context, public and private entities must continue the work developed over the last few years in this niche market.

"Making destinations accessible for all is one today's major challenges faced by all those involved in the tourism industry throughout the world in order to enhance their offer and capture this market segment," said João Bettencourt at the First Entrepreneurship Forum on Accessible Tourism.

The Regional Director noted that, only in 2012, tourism flows in this segment totalled 783 million trips within the European Union and are expected to reach 862 million in 2020.

Among EU countries, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Spain are the main sources of tourism flows to the Azores, being also the markets with the highest number of tourists with accessibility needs.

"The awareness that we have gained in these markets allows us to go a step further and to position ourselves within the more specific segments of these markets," stressed the government official.

João Bettencourt recalled that "the creation conditions to accommodate tourists with reduce mobility in tourism infrastructures and services, from accommodation to tourism leisure and restaurants, is nothing new in the Azores."

"The implementation of best practices, whether in terms of infrastructures, equipment or in terms of tourism products and services, has been legally safeguarded in the archipelago long ago to make tourism even more accessible for all, without discriminating age, abilities or disabilities, and economic resources," said the government official.

The Regional Director highlighted the path followed by the tourism sector in the Azores in recent years, which has invested in its natural resources in order to differentiate itself from competitors. In this regard, the Region has joined efforts with businesspeople in order to offer tourists the best experiences and, increasingly, promote a highly qualified and distinctive offer that is capable of generating added value, being in line the values of Nature Destination.

"However, we can never forget that the fast pace of dynamics in the tourism sector demands from us, public and private entities, the ability to adapt to the changes and challenges we constantly face, under the penalty of losing competitiveness," said the Regional Director. Moreover, the government official emphasised the need for everyone's commitment to building a destination that is capable of evolving and keeping up with international trends and, this, meet a level of demand with very special requirements.
 
"Despite being young, we aspire to be a different and distinctive destination, but with the capacity to respond to the desires of those who want to live a unique experience and a different holiday, always in the most absolute respect for the differences of those who enjoy it," said João Bettencourt.

"The promotion and assurance of equal opportunities for all, regardless of their limitations and vulnerabilities, has long been and will continue to be a priority for Azorean tourism," said the Regional Director.