Ponta Delgada, Portugal, Sept. 10, 2026 (Lusa) - The Azores Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called for «greater investment in promoting» the destination and a change to the strategy for attracting airlines in the region's plan and budget for 2027.
Speaking to the media on Thursday after a meeting with the President of the Azores Regional Government (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM), the representative of Azorean business leaders expressed «concern» about «connectivity within the region», access to the outside world and the current state of tourism.
«We advocate ‘greater investment in promoting the Azores and also, perhaps, a slight change to the strategy that has been used in attracting flights and promoting the Azores as a destination',» Francisco Rosa told journalists at the headquarters of the regional government of the Azores in Ponta Delgada.
The head of the Azorean government, José Manuel Bolieiro, was concluding a round of consultations with political parties and social partners regarding the region's plan and budget for 2027.
«We put forward a number of points regarding what we consider to be relevant, namely connectivity within the region, our concerns regarding tourism and transport, and the role of the business sector in government decision-making,» added Francisco Rosa.
He reiterated that the Chamber of Commerce is willing to collaborate with the Azores regional government and stated that the president of the Azores government «proved open» to considering the business community's demands.
«It will be a difficult budget given the current economic climate and the conclusion of the PRR [Recovery and Resilience Plan] and the budgetary obligations required to complete certain projects and put investments into operation, but we feel there has been a willingness to consolidate funding in these areas», he emphasised, accompanied by the presidents of the chambers of commerce of Ponta Delgada and Angra do Heroísmo and the president of the Pico Commercial and Industrial Association.
The debate and vote on the Azores' plan and budget for 2027 will take place in November at the regional parliament, in the city of Horta, on the island of Faial.
The plan and budget for 2026 were approved in November 2025, with votes in favour from the PSD, CDS-PP and PPM; votes against from the BE, IL and PAN; and abstentions from the PS and Chega.
The government formed following the early legislative elections of 4 February 2024 governs the region without an absolute majority in the Azorean parliament and therefore requires the support of other parties with parliamentary seats to pass its proposals.
The PSD, CDS-PP and PPM elected 26 regional MPs, falling three short of an absolute majority. The PS is the second-largest party in the archipelago, with 23 terms of office, followed by Chega, with five. The BE, IL and PAN each elected one regional MP, making up the total of 57 elected members.
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