“The great advantage is that all islands have at least two tour operators for cetacean observation”, said the vice president of the Regional Government, Artur Lima, in Ponta Delgada.

The official recalled that the islands of Flores and Corvo “didn’t have” until now the possibility of observing whales.

According to the statement from the Government Council, the activity of cetacean observation “has an added importance for the identity of tourism in the Azores, representing one of the most successful cases of sustainable development worldwide, through the reconversion of an economic activity that went from being extractive (whaling) to an activity that largely valued a natural resource.”

“The inheritance of a vast whaling heritage and all legislative precautionary measures that are adopted, associated with its preservation, is an essential factor in regional tourism policies, denoting a respectful concern for the past, while evolving towards a situation of economic prosperity”.

The executive also recalls that “the qualitative development of maritime-tourist activities, as well as the protection of the sea and its truly sustainable use, are strategic priorities included in the Program of the XIV Government of the Azores”.

“The cetacean observation activity stands out as one of the most relevant for creating value in this context and deserves careful attention in its basic structuring with a view to future sustainability”, he says.

Therefore, “it is important to offer tourist licenses for cetacean observation on all islands, in particular, for Zone A, on one more, and for Zone C, on eight more licenses”, with the proposal to abolish Zone Z.