Age, experience, political maturity, and the current socio-economic landscape of the Azores have stirred in me a series of questions—questions that provoke inner tensions and moments of reflection. Without abandoning any of my personal convictions or the political spectrum to which I belong, I recognize that, in the past, I often embraced a more Manichaean outlook. Perhaps guided by the utopian impulse that still lives within me, I resisted seeing the nuances that—when strategically understood—can become constructive tools for shaping policies that improve existing measures. This is not an act of contrition; I regret none of the battles I have fought.

While I have never been an advocate of the tourism boom, nor of the way it was implemented, I cannot ignore its positive impacts—nor can I overlook its consequences, such as the growing lack of accessible housing.

And yet, in light of everything that has recently been said about its current slowdown—finally acknowledged, albeit hesitantly, by the President of the Regional Government—I feel compelled to state this clearly: the Azores do not need to be “trendy.” What they need is strategy, vision, and policies that function in practice. Above all, what is required is responsible action and planning that ensures a degree of predictability.

What sustains tourism is not awards or media campaigns, but the labor of those who work daily in hospitality, restaurants, and service industries. The rapid expansion of hotels, short-term rentals, and gourmet dining—without a solid strategic framework—has proven insufficient to ensure the sector’s long-term stability.

Despite the growth of tourism in recent years, structural poverty in the Azores remains a pressing concern. In 2024, the at-risk-of-poverty rate stood at 17.3%, above the national average of 15.4%, while approximately 28.4% of the population faced the risk of poverty or social exclusion—significantly higher than in mainland Portugal. Even among those employed, the risk of poverty remains elevated, reflecting the fragility of seasonal work and the low wages prevalent in sectors such as hospitality and food service. These figures demonstrate that tourism alone does not eradicate poverty; what is needed is an integrated economic and social policy.

To achieve this, regional policy must move beyond media campaigns and ceremonial events. The sector requires a balanced strategy—one that values local labor, creates real opportunities for regional professionals, strengthens education and vocational training, and promotes both economic and territorial sustainability, ensuring tangible benefits for the population.

An integrated approach would allow the Region to transform challenges into opportunities, maintaining tourism as one of several economic levers—without compromising identity or exhausting the archipelago’s resources.

The Azores do not need to be “in fashion.” They need consistent, responsible, and innovative policies—policies capable of generating trust and delivering lasting results for all those who depend, directly or indirectly, on this sector.

Tourism cannot remain confined to a logic of numbers, accolades, and awards. It must turn its attention to life itself—to work, to dignity, to the future.

For it is not within those distinctions that the people who sustain this sector truly live.

There is, after all, more to life than Ryanair.

Alexandra Manes is from Flores Island but lives on Terceira Island in the Azores. She is a regular contributor to several Azorean newspapers, a political and cultural activist, and has served in the Azorean Parliament.

NOVIDADES will feature occasional opinion pieces from leading thinkers and writers in the Azores, providing the diaspora and those interested in the current state of the Azores with a sense of the significant perspectives on some of the archipelago’s issues.

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL).