The Regional Secretary for Energy, Environment and Tourism stressed in Horta that the Plan for 2019 provides for an investment of 55 million Euros in these three areas. It represents a growth of 5.5% compared to this year, evidencing that the Regional Government maintains its focus on the sustainable development of the archipelago.
 
"This growth is visible in any of these areas. It is primarily intended to guarantee the sustainability of tourism development and safeguard our main assets, namely the environmental component, without ever neglecting the challenges that are posed today in the area of energy," stressed Marta Guerreiro.
 
The Regional Secretary spoke at the Legislative Assembly, at the end of the hearings on the proposals for the 2019 Plan and Budget. She stated that the tourism sector faces "major challenges, mainly in terms of qualification, not only the improvement of spaces but also the qualification of human resources." In this context, part of the amount allocated under the Plan will be directed to this area.
 
"We have moved forward towards the certification of the Region as a sustainable tourist destination. We are committed to achieving it in 2019 with a series of initiatives in this area that aim, above all, to put into practice what is, in fact, the concept of sustainability," said the government official.
 
Marta Guerreiro added that the Azorean Government will continue "to invest in the promotion of the Region abroad" by supporting events that may "contribute to the economic activity of all islands" that, simultaneous, mitigate the "effects of seasonality."
 
In the area of energy, the Regional Secretary highlighted several ongoing measures, such as Electric Mobility, which focuses on the implementation of a network of public charging stations, and the allocation of incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles. Moreover, she mentioned various energy projects and the regional plan for 2030 defining the energy strategy of the Region; the basic diagnostic document is under public discussion until December.
 
Marta Guerreiro also highlighted the continued investment in the Network of Environmental Centres, which have registered "extraordinary results in terms of demand." We are "very proud" of their offer as far as they provide residents and tourists a greater and deeper knowledge on the environmental heritage of the Azores.
 
The Regional Secretary also highlighted other environmental areas, such as the hydrographic network, land management plans, the monitoring of risk areas and environmental quality as other concerns in which we will to continue to invest as well as in waste management. According to her, the latter "calls for special attention as there are very close goals to be fulfilled."
 
For the government official, "these areas are increasingly consolidated, but they continue to require investment, and this is what happens in the Plan for 2019." It will focus on projects already under way that will have to be maintained, while addressing the challenges for each of these areas.