More beds and higher costs challenge tourism in the Azores

Growing accommodation capacity and the cost of visiting the Azores featured prominently in an emergency tourism debate held at the regional parliament in Horta on 22 October. Requested by the Socialist Party, the discussion followed 11 consecutive months of declining overnight stays and exposed differing assessments of the sector's position.

Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructure Berta Cabral countered the decline with revenue above 2025 levels and guest numbers and overnight stays exceeding those of 2024. Describing 2025 as the region's strongest tourism year, she rejected claims that the industry was experiencing an alarming downturn.

Figures presented by Cabral showed that available beds increased by 32.7% between 2022 and August 2026, mainly through local accommodation. She acknowledged differences between islands, markets and segments, alongside concerns that accommodation, restaurant and car rental prices were strengthening the archipelago's reputation as an expensive destination.

Parliamentary contributions highlighted competing interpretations of higher revenue. The Liberal Initiative pointed to inflation's influence, the Left Bloc blamed the regional government for excess supply, and PAN called for reduced tourism pressure during peak periods. CDS-PP urged the government to take business owners' concerns seriously.

Transport also shaped the discussion. Cabral said the government was willing to work with businesses and industry associations on responses, while stressing that securing routes requires sustained effort and delivers results over the medium term. The People's Monarchist Party proposed restoring seasonal ferry links across all islands and permanent services between São Miguel and Santa Maria, bringing inter-island mobility into the debate over tourism's future.