This document provides information about tourism and sustainability in the Azores archipelago of Portugal. It includes data on tourism trends over time, impacts of tourism on the local economy and environment, renewable energy initiatives on different islands, and ideas for classroom activities to teach about the Azores. Sample activities explore topics like sustainable tourism and energy planning, using maps, graphs and data analysis to explore trends and issues.

1. Azores
Jo Debens
@geodebs
jodebens.com

2. INTRODUCTION TO THE
AZORES

3. Furnas

4. Terra Nostra

5. Centrale
Geothermico
de Pico

6. Sete Cidades

7. Ferreria

8. Pico

9. Whaling

10. Vineyards

11. Gruta das Torres

12. Faial Botanical garden

13. Capelinhos

14. Review of the trip - jodebens.com

15. Teaching about the Azores…free
resources

16. e.g. Resource 23 -Categorising
card sort
-Locating onto
map / GIS
-Holiday
planning
-Evaluating
potential
impact of each
activity

17. e.g. from Resource 15
BACKGROUND
Graciosa plans to be 100% renewable by the end
of 2014. Corvo has traditionally been totally
dependent on non-renewable energy and is aiming
for 75% wind and solar energy.
RELATIONAL: Use the weblinks to create an action plan for
Corvo by learning what Graciosa has done. Analyse the info
and make suggestions. Explain how sustainable the plan is.
EXTENDED ABSTRACT: As above but also
Use the weblinks to evaluate Graciosa’s plan – can 100%
be achieved? Make a prediction about how successful
Corvo may be. Reflect on what can be improved and make
recommendations.

18. e.g. from Resource 25 Tourism trends
BRONZE task: Draw a line
graph to show the pattern
of tourists travelling to the
Azores as a whole.
Describe and suggest
reasons for the pattern of
tourism.
SILVER task: Compare the
seasonality of tourism
between islands. Create a
chart to show this
information & suggest
possible reasons for why
the pattern exists
GOLD task: Represent the
data from Figure 2 in a pie
chart. Use Figure 3 to create
a flow lines map (or even a
proportional arrow map)
showing origin of tourists.
Describe & explain reasons
for the pattern.

19. e.g. using Resource 24
• Whaling was banned
in 1986 in the Azores
• How do you think this
had an impact on the
local economy and
society?
• Which is more
sustainable – whale
watching or whaling?
Why? Discuss.

20. Example general activities

21. What’s the connection? Beat the
teacher.

22. How does
this office
control the
future of Sao
Miguel?

23. The same but different: what do
Iceland and the Azores have in
common, and what is distinctive?

24. Hotspots: Azores vs Iceland
Why can you swim
here…
…but not here?

25. Tell me a story about the picture.
It must include: a dramatic moment, a hero and a
villain, and some ‘heavenly’ words.

26. 1
2 3
4 5 6
7 8
9
Important
Not important
Diamond 9

27. Decline of
fishing
Fishing was
once the main
income for the
Azores but is in
decline, loss of
jobs
Concerns
about waste
Increase in
tourism will lead
to an increase in
waste and landfill
areas
Public
transport
Parts of the
Azores have
small roads and
limited public
transport.
Congestion.
Urbanisation
Only 5% of
Azores is
urbanised, but
increasing
pressure to build
& develop
means resources
imported
Marine
environment
Whaling has now
become whale
watching. There
is potential sea
level rise in
future.
UNESCO
Biosphere
Reserve
European
Geopark status,
Blue Flag
beaches, etc.
Renewable
energy
Geothermal,
HEP & wind
power
contributed 55%
of Sao Miguel’s
energy 2013.
Water
management
Eutrophication
and mineral
leaching into
lakes. Invasive
species.
Social
responsibility
Poor pay and
living conditions
for construction
workers in tourist
developments.

28. Links to numeracy
REGION 2002 2008 2011 % Variation
2002-2011
Portugal (all) 239903 273975 289107 +20.5%
Algarve 94089 98724 102462 ?
Azores 5388 8662 8871 ?
Madeira 26853 28093 28500 ?
Number of accommodation beds available.
BRONZE task:
Calculate the percentage
variation for the regions
between 2002-2011.
Which region has increased
the amount of
accommodation most
rapidly?
SILVER task:
Can you plot this
information effectively onto
a graph? What is the
pattern shown?
GOLD task:
Can you create this graph
in Google Earth? Or locate
your own on an annotated
map?

29. Describe the trend.
Is developing the Azores for tourism
sustainable? Use evidence to explain your
answer.
0.00%
5.00%
10.00%
15.00%
20.00%
25.00%
30.00%
35.00%
40.00%
45.00%
2002 2008 2012
Number of tourists in Azores
Number of
tourists
Linear (Number
of tourists)

30. Where are we going?
Use map evidence to describe the location of the Azores.
How might this link to sustainable tourism?

31. Wordle

32. Tagxedo

33. Flickr stimulus

34. 1 2 3 4 5 6
1
Link to
sustainability
S.E.E.
Current land use Impacts on
transport
3/5ths
population live
with Sao Miguel
Azorean
government
view
Refer to data
2
Refer to data Link to
sustainability
Local hotel
owner
Potential new
jobs (tourism
related)
Young adults
traditionally
migrate out of
rural areas to
urban areas
Local builders
3
Services
(including
health, shops,
facilities)
Brain drain of
migrants to
Portugal itself
Link to
sustainability
Residents
(NIMBIES)
Geothermal
power plant
owner / workers
Airline staff
4
Rural areas are
largely quite
traditional
Impact of
increased
trekking / hiking
on landscape
Local farm
owner
Link to
sustainability
Refer to data Tourism
accounted for
8% Azorean
$GDP 2012
5
Unemployment
rate was 14.9%
in 2013
Decline of
traditional work
in fisheries / tea
Potential impact
on crime and
safety
Refer to data Link to
sustainability
President of
Portugal
6
Better internet /
3G access in
rural counties
National
economy
Refer to data Natural habitats Urban Home
Owners
Link to
sustainability

35. THUNKS: WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE?
SUSTAINABLE OR NOT? PROVE IT!

36. Scenario:
You are an entrepreneur in the Azores. Portugal is in a
recession but you have some options for how to invest
your money. You want to ensure your investment is
beneficial long-term. You are also under pressure from
your family to maintain a quality social experience and
natural environment.
You must make a decision & justify
your choice by linking to S.E.E.
sustainability and considering
viewpoints. Do you:
Introduce a new mass
tourism Volcano Tour
programme including
super-jeeps, helicopter
rides, large hotels.
Similar to Iceland.
Develop eco-tourism
shelters and
encourage camping &
hiking in wilderness
areas rather than
hotels.
Do nothing. Return to
your job on the
mainland and wait for
the economy to
improve.

37. Improve your writing…with VCOP!
MEDC LEDC rural urban
physical features human features climate
sustainability social economic environmental
resident tourist government
however likewise whereas even though
on the other hand unlike contrasting to
in addition to despite because so as to
nevertheless although similarly
Tourism in the Azores can be considered……………….
Sustainability means that…………………..
In order to be sustainable, the Azores’ tourism must………………………
The social/economic/environmental impacts of tourism include………
Tourism causes….however this is sustainable because……..
unctuation
ocabulary
onnectives
peners

38. Google Earth Placemarks & tours

39. Pinterest boards

40. YOUR IDEAS?
Over to you. Discuss. Plan. Share!
Full resources from DtW CPD days:
http://bit.ly/1NULu2F