Online Presence of Tour Companies in the Azores

Abstract

Tourism is a sector that is assuming more and more importance in the economy and finances of the Azores and, in recent years, has presented one of the largest growth rates in Portugal. This growth stems from the liberalization of airspace, coupled with a strong commitment to the sector by tourism agents in the region, and by the Regional Government of the Azores, which has been working to promote the Azores as a touristic destination. In spite of the improvement in the quality of services offered by tour companies on the archipelago, it is crucial to boost agents’ online presence about available activities and attractions, as well as to increase tourist flows and stay duration. This work evaluates the websites of these companies and aims to analyze the online presence of tour companies in the Azores, and identify their level of knowledge and functionality for consumers and other tourism travel agents.