Ponta Delgada, Portugal, Oct. 2, 2026 (Lusa) - Early drafts of the Azores' 2027 Plan and Budget provide for an increase in investment in the Portuguese region's tourism promotion to €17.2 million, an increase of €8.3 million compared with 2026, it was revealed on Friday.
«In the area of tourism promotion, international marketing of the Azores as a destination will be stepped up, with a focus on strategic markets and segments offering greater added value, encouraging initiatives that boost demand throughout the year, the average length of stay of visitors and tourism spending,» state the documents to which the Lusa news agency had access.
In the draft budget for 2027, the regional government (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM) has allocated around €17.2 million for the «promotion and sustainable development of the Azores as a destination» and highlights the importance of the sector, which «accounts for 17.2% of regional employment».
In the 2026 Budget, the regional government allocated €8.9 million to «tourism promotion and development».
The investment planned for next year is broken down into initiatives covering «sustainable promotion», «tourist information», participation in trade fairs, educational trips, promotional materials, institutional participation in promotional activities, incentives for external organisations and promotion through events.
According to rthe documents, «The Azores' economic specialisation highlights the growing importance of tourism in generating value, alongside the structural importance of the primary sector and trade in the regional economy».
In terms of transport, the Regional Government defines ensuring the «mobility of people and goods, both within and outside the region» as a «priority» and promises to maintain «investment in the modernisation of regional airport infrastructure».
«The Government will continue to ensure key measures for residents' mobility, namely the Azores Tariff, the Azores 9 Islands Pass and the Public Service Obligations (PSOs) on inter-island routes. Implementation of the new PSO contract will also begin, with an operating model better suited to the specific characteristics and needs of each island,» it explains.
Among the planned interventions for the airports, the regional government  highlights the «process of expropriation of land surrounding Graciosa aerodrome», the «commissioning of new fire-fighting vehicles» on Pico, São Jorge and Graciosa, and the «development of the extension process» for the runway at Pico.
As for port infrastructure, according to the draft Plan and Budget proposals, «structural investments» will be «carried out», such as the new port at Lajes das Flores, the protection of the coastline at Cais do Pico, the refurbishment of the Praia da Vitória port terminal, the restoration of the Pipas port building and the «modernisation of the commercial port of Horta».
On 9 September, following a meeting with the regional government, the Azores Chamber of Commerce and Industry called for «greater investment in promoting» the destination and a change to the strategy for attracting routes in the region's Plan and Budget for 2027.
These demands from the business sector come at a time when overnight stays have been falling for 11 consecutive months in the region.
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.
Before being submitted to the regional parliament, the draft proposals are sent to the Island Councils and the Azores Economic and Social Council for their opinion.
RPYP/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa