Smart and Sustainable Tourism in the Azores - The Integration of Technological Practices: A Study of a Hotel Unit in the Region

Abstract

Tourism growth in the Azores has generated significant economic benefits but also challenges related to sustainability and the risk of overtourism. This qualitative study analyzes how the adoption of emerging technologies can contribute to creating a smart and sustainable tourism ecosystem in the region, reconciling innovation with environmental preservation and sociocultural valorization. The research was based on semi-structured interviews with professionals from the Azorean tourism and business sector, complemented by a case study of a local hotel unit. The results show the growing implementation of technological practices such as consumption sensors, automation, digital platforms, and sustainable resource management solutions, but also reveal structural obstacles, such as resistance to change, infrastructural limitations, and digital skills deficits. It is concluded that the Azores have the potential to position themselves as a smart tourism destination, provided that coordination between public and private entities is strengthened, investment in training is increased, and integration between digital strategies and sustainability practices aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is enhanced. The study contributes to advancing knowledge about smart tourism in island contexts, proposing replicable frameworks for digital sustainability and strategic communication. Limitations include the lack of long-term data and the absence of tourists' direct perspectives, highlighting avenues for future research.