SmartDest: Converting the Azores Into a Smart Tourist Destination

Abstract

The Azores are an increasingly attractive tourist destination. The excellence of endogenous resources has allowed it to consolidate its position as nature and adventure destination. Consequently, the regional strategy seeks to base this sector's growth on the principles of sustainable development. The potential granted by the new technologies is combined in an excellent opportunity to pursue this objective and convert the Azores into a smart tourist destination. Thus, according to this vision, a conversion plan was elaborated that can guide the performance of the destination management bodies and other stakeholders. In methodological terms, different techniques were applied, including the identification of good local practices and case studies for benchmarking, a self-diagnosis, interviews with stakeholders, and a SWOT analysis. The plan was concluded with the definition of measures, actions, and pilot projects to be implemented in the region following a structure based on the smart destinations development axes proposed in 2015 by Segittur.