Azores Situation Report Wednesday 31st July 2024
Overnight stays in tourist accommodation in the Azores increased by 9.4% in June
The Azores recorded around 473 thousand overnight stays in tourist accommodation in June, 9.4% more than in the same period last year, according to estimates from the Regional Statistics Service (SREA) released this Monday.
Applications open for special travel arrangements for higher education students
Applications for the special travel regime for students entering higher education outside São Miguel Island for the first time are open until August 15th, Ponta Delgada City Council says.
Apartments cost 900 euros/m2 more ten years later
The median value of apartments per square meter in the Azores in June 2024 more than doubled in a decade, being 903 euros higher than in September 2014
The median value of bank appraisals for apartments in the Autonomous Region of the Azores was 1,684 euros per square meter (euros/m2) in June 2024, an assessment that more than doubled in a decade, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), consulted by Açoriano Oriental.
Compared to September 2014 (INE does not present data for June 2014), the median value of bank appraisals for apartments in June of this year was 903 euros/m2 higher, which translates into an increase of 215.6%.
Ryanair intends to reopen base in Ponta Delgada
About a month ago, Ryanair sent the Government of the Republic a plan to significantly increase the airline’s presence in Portugal by 2030, which, according to the newspaper Eco, foresees the reopening of the Ponta Delgada base, in São Miguel.
The plan foresees “doubling the number of routes to more than 320, adding 16 new planes (an investment of 1.6 billion dollars) to the operation, reopening the Ponta Delgada base, reducing seasonality in Faro, Ponta Delgada and Funchal and creating 500 jobs”.
At a press conference held yesterday in Lisbon, Ryanair Group CEO Michael O’Leary said he wanted to double the number of passengers transported in Portugal to 27 million, but he is demanding an increase in the number of slots in Lisbon and state incentives to reduce airport taxes.
Three thermal areas closed on the island of São Miguel due to suspected contamination
The Regional Health Directorate of the Azores today ordered the closure of three thermal spas on the island of São Miguel to the public, due to laboratory tests that indicate results “compatible with microbiological contamination”, the regional executive reported.
The decision was taken after the Regional Health Directorate carried out an environmental investigation, with the collection of thermal waters, in Caldeira Velha, Poça da Dona Beija and Parque Terra Nostra, on the island of São Miguel.
“The laboratory analysis of the samples collected was carried out by INSA [National Institute of Health Doctor Ricardo Jorge], with the results being compatible with microbiological contamination,” the note reads.
Thus, “good Public Health practices dictate that, when the result of a microbiological analysis of water is unfit for its intended purpose, measures must be taken to guarantee the safety of the population”.
Applying the “Precautionary Principle”, the Azorean executive reports that it has determined the application of several measures in the three identified locations, such as their closure and excluding the public from the tank area.
It was also decided to carry out a “shock disinfection”, drain, clean and disinfect the tanks and accessories, and review the control and risk assessment measures.
It was also determined to carry out new analyses after filling the tanks and to keep the spaces closed “until the risk assessment has yielded satisfactory results”.
“These instructions were given to the entities managing the spaces in question, who are collaborating actively and committedly”, guarantees the Regional Government of the Azores.