Project CREATOUR

The main objective of CREATOUR Azores is to train various agents located in the Azores archipelago to develop, implement and promote creative tourism experiences. Through these experiences tourists will have opportunities to actively participate in creative activities, providing opportunities for learning, creative self-expression and interaction with local communities. The creative tourism approach allows both visitors and local communities to benefit from tourism by promoting cultural vitality and sustainability and allowing artistic and creative activities to play a key role in socio-economic development.

Additionally, the CREATOUR Azores project intends to reinforce knowledge about the specific market segments with greater interest in creative tourism products, which can be offered in the region (matching profiles of characteristics and offers of specific destinations), as well as identifying the most appropriate channels to communicate with these differentiated segments. Given the unique location and intrinsic characteristics of the Azores, there is a very high potential for the development of attractive and unique creative tourism offers at an international level.

CREATOUR Azores is a project with an integrated research and application approach, which aims to develop research focused on creative tourism in island regions; diversify tourist offers in the Azores; and strengthen links with other Portuguese regions where this model is being implemented through the CREATOUR project.

With an integrated research and application approach, CREATOUR Azores will select, monitor and learn through 5 pilot projects located in the Azores; develop an advisory committee of organizations/stakeholders; promote training workshops, involving international experts; organize an international conference (Autumn 2021); publish articles in academic journals; make communications at scientific meetings; and produce annual reports.

The research lines in the project include the cultural mapping of resources, organizations, events and initiatives related to creative tourism in the region; benchmarking and analysis of tourist profiles in the Azores; and analysis of creative tourism products in international island destinations. An analysis of practical needs will also be carried out to develop creative tourism products, and strategic guidelines and the respective action plan will be created.