Territorial Management and Governance, Regional Public Policies and their Relationship with Tourism. A Case Study of the Azores Autonomous Region

Rui Alexandre Castanho,Pedro Pimentel,Áurea Sousa,Gualter Couto,Célia Barreto Carvalho

doi:10.3390/su12156059

Abstract

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.

Highlights

Sustainable development and growth are undoubtedly one of the main concerns and objectives of regional territories today [1,2,3,4]
Considering the characteristics presented of isolated low-density territory by the Azores Autonomous Region (AAR), the following research question is raised: “What is the perception of tourists and locals in the Azores Region about the relationship and impacts between public policies, territorial planning, and the influence on regional tourism?”
To create sustainable development strategies based on tourism, rural and peripheral areas should offer some pre-required features—i.e., regional and local know-how and quality resources, among many others, in order to benefit from windows of opportunity created in these high unemployment territories [41]

Summary

Introduction

Sustainable development and growth are undoubtedly one of the main concerns and objectives of regional territories today [1,2,3,4]. It should consider the estrangements arising from disparities in planning intentions, such as differing interests of stakeholders, or issues related to the planning of waste management, among many other challenges in rural and urban territories Those planning problems will be used as incentives to promote economic performance, social equity, and environmental efficiency, instead of sustainable development barriers. To create sustainable development strategies based on tourism, rural and peripheral areas should offer some pre-required features—i.e., regional and local know-how and quality resources, among many others, in order to benefit from windows of opportunity created in these high unemployment territories [41]. It is essential to stretch cooperation between the public sector, private sector, communities, and civil society, intending to guarantee that the purposes of its investment policies are obtained [47]

Spatial Planning of Tourism and Sustainability in the Azores Archipelago

Material and Methods

Discussions and Conclusions

Findings

Study Limitations and Further