Touristic groups in Azores: the Finnish case

Abstract

In the last decade, the opening and the bigger exposure of Azores Autonomic Region in the media, as well the assumption of the importance of tourism to the regional economy by the local government, introduced the planning of this sector in those islands. Even if all regions have specific features as the main touristic Portuguese regions such as Algarve, Madeira and Lisboa, the Azores product - Natural landscape - is different from the all the rest. Its difference and specification is directed to niche markets, which means not to attract the consumer populations of the most searched touristic product - Sun and beach. Due the fragility and weak capacity of the Azorean touristic product renovation, but still with the necessity of economical income, it’s essential the non-allowance of tourist masses but at- tract a highly economic value and academic instructed tourist type. The Scandinavian population has been one of the bets for a sustainable tourism in Azores, and Finland one of the some questions: Is this a correct bet? What can Azores offer? What are Finnish searching in their vacations periods? To answer those questions a bibliographic search and an inquiry were Azores offer it ́s pretended.