• Energy Research

Tourists’ intentions show many changing dynamics, both in terms of destination and accommodation selection. These changes in dynamics are seasonal and significantly affected by trends. Therefore, after an infectious disease outbreak, as is the case with COVID-19 caused by a new coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, these dynamics change on an entirely different level and are so far unknown. Contextual research was conducted to define and analyze the impacts of SARS-CoV-2 on Azores residents’ tourism accommodations plans in 2020 by examining their intentions. The most frequent choice was to spend 2020 vacations at the vacation residences of family or friends (24.3%), followed by approximately 20% who chose three- to four-star hotels. A considerable increase in rural tourism accommodation selection intentions was noticed, obtaining the third position with 13.7%, followed by local accommodation (guest house) with 12.1% of the selection intentions. The study concludes that there are massive consequences of the SARS-CoV-2 crisis at the level of holiday choices and social isolation concerns for this ultra-peripheral territory.

The remarkable richness and singularity of the Azorean Region (located 38° North) and its landscapes require a sharp, well-defined, and comprehensive planning policy. Bearing in mind the significance of this issue in the enlightenment of sustainability, planning strategies should be based and supported by different studies and thematic domains to understand the problem thoroughly. Using GIS (Geographic Information Systems), the present article enables us to identify the dynamics and patterns of the evolution of the Land-Use Changes in the Azores Region from 1990 to 2018. In aggregate, the Azores islands showed growth in artificial surfaces and forest and seminatural land-uses by essentially decreasing agricultural areas—most resulting from the economic and social development strategy pursued by several Azorean governments. Moreover, this study permits us to reinforce that the Azores Archipelago’s land-uses has undergone multiple changes—marked by increasing and decreasing periods. In fact, some of these reducing dynamics are disturbing. They require closer monitorization by regional government actors to give protection, preservation, and conservation to these incomparable ultra-peripheral landscapes, environments, ecosystems, and the region as a whole.

Bearing in mind the growth in regions with socio-economic bases dependent on tourism, studies that analyze spatial planning processes, regional public policies, and their relationship with tourism activities are essential to achieve the so-desired sustainable territorial development. Through case study research methods, territorial impact analysis, and questionnaires to explore the public perceptions, it was possible to design and implement a study regarding this specific regional governance theme on the Azores Autonomous Region (AAR). The research allowed us to learn that the most affected activities by public territorial policies in the AAR from the respondents’ perspective were accommodation (54.7%) and nature (51.9%). Conversely, the less affected were culture (15.1%) and rental/hire services (17.9). Furthermore, it was possible to identify two factors that rule public policies on the growth and development of the Azores: (i) impact in the natural landscape and (ii) suitable production factors.

Tourism is an important activity to achieve territorial sustainability. In fact, a properly planned long-term tourism activity is critical for the regional planning to reach the desired living conditions capable of attracting new residents in the future. Thereby, the present research aims to assess the perceptions of the managers of tourist companies in the Azores on sustainability actors about the sustainability of tourism activity in the archipelago. Contextually, throughout an exploratory methodology, it was possible to assess the Azores Touristic Companies managers’ perceptions. Hence, this paper shows that the sustainable practices most frequently adopted by the surveyed companies are the following: prioritize the purchase of regional goods and services (94.7%); selective waste separation (94.5%); minimize the use of hazardous substances or replace them with less hazardous products (92.3%); ensure the proper final destination of wastewater (public sanitation, septic tank) (88.8%); and adopt purchasing criteria that take into account environmentally friendly products or services (88.6%). This research also recognizes that 67% of the respondents consider that the respective participating companies have their goals aligned with environmental conservation principles, 66.7% aligned with environmental conservation principles, 36.9% aligned with social conservation principles and 26.4% aligned with cultural conservation principle.

Throughout history, times of crisis have always been preceded by periods of change. In fact, the current moment of health, economic, and social crisis that we are experiencing seems to be no exception. Tourism seems to be one of the most affected activities by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis—due not only the cancelled flights but also to the fear of being infected with the virus. In this sense, the present article intends to identify the Azores Archipelago residents’ tourism expectations during the COVID-19 crisis. Using the Azores Islands as a case study and merging it with the authors’ knowledge about this regional reality, it was possible to collect a substantial quantity of data. Thus, this study provides an in-depth perception of the main issues about how this pandemic crisis affects the tourism expectations of the Azores region residents, and consequently, how this situation will influence regional sustainable development. Through the study, it was possible to verify that the significant part of the Azores Archipelago residents (57.5%) will not be going to travel to spend vacations in 2020. Additionally, 84.2% will have holidays in the region; therefore, they stay in the Azores Archipelago. Besides, this study shows that majority of the respondents (61.6%) would not make a reservation for a 2020 vacation.

It has become evident that rural tourism grew significantly during the pandemic compared to mass tourism. However, at this time, all the forecasts were wrapped in considerable uncertainty regarding travel, which is not without the elevated associated risk. Therefore, we assessed the perceptions of the entrepreneurs in relation to rural tourism activities regarding the advantages of their rural tourism activity in the Azores for customers. Furthermore, the potential for developing this typology of tourism is pivotal for obtaining very reliable data and information on this topic and enabling us to provide guidelines for the leading regional players. In this regard, an exploratory method was used to assess the perceptions of the entrepreneurs with rural tourism activities in the Azores Islands regarding the customers’ experiences and some other important aspects concerning the promotion of this type of tourism in the region. Throughout this study, it was possible to verify that the most relevant obstacles to the development of rural tourism in the Azores region are the preservation and conservation of nature and endogenous resources and delivering proper infrastructures and regional accessibilities. Contrarily, the increase in community and regional funding and support for rural tourism could be key to the prosperity of this typology of tourism in this insular territory.

It is understood that some types of tourism, as is the case of rural tourism, have an even more relevant role in achieving regional sustainability. Considering the actual COVID-19 sanitary crisis and its horizontal impacts over all the society and economy spheres, along with the relevance of rural tourism over the regional development, the current paper explores the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic over the Azores Region’s Touristic Companies. Thus, through direct testing tools, such as questionnaires and site analysis, the present article enabled us to provide more insights into the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic over the Azores Region’s touristic companies. The sample comprises 506 business managers of establishments of the touristic sector of the Azores, an outermost region of Portugal. The study has a descriptive focus and uses some methods of descriptive statistics, including the multiple response analysis. Most respondents consider that COVID-19 has a strong negative impact on their companies and expect a drop in turnover in 2020/2021. Our results suggest that government support is essential to offset the effects of the pandemic on companies of the tourism sector and show that the seal “Clean & Safe Azores” is an asset for companies operating in this region. Therefore, the results of this study could be used as a practical application for the Regional Authorities for the measurement of the impacts caused by the recent health crisis on the economy of the Azores.